June 29, 2016
I\’m hoping this strange trial did not put a dent in the Randy California/Wolfe Estate — which can\’t possibly approximate LED ZEPPELIN holdings. On the contrary, I\’m hoping SPIRIT sales have soared as a consequence; and, that Jimmy and Robert do the right thing by absorbing all court costs (because Jimmy did rip that section off from \’Taurus\’ for the \’Stairway\’ intro). I have no clue how much money \”Taurus\” may have made — but \”Stairway\” has reportedly brought in close to $600-million-and-counting.
Now, before anyone suggests that I am merely supporting the Topanga Boyz (since I live so very close to Topanga) — I need my readers to know that I have in my possession a 1974 recording of RASPUTIN (the second band I played in) performing \”Stairway to Heaven\” in our high school variety concert. I love ZEP!
Furthermore, I wouldn\’t dare suggest that Jimmy Page ripped off the progression if I hadn\’t learned (from an excellent source who must remain anonymous) that Randy California believed that the notes-of-which-we-speak were ripped off; and, that he was actually \”stewing\” about it at-the-time-of-his-death in 1997. I forgot to ask my source why Randy never mounted a lawsuit of his own. His estate was probably empowered by the Marvin Gaye judgement.
But how can we really trust the guy who lives in Alistair Crowley\’s former abode? That canine sharpening, hand-biting leader of the World Church of Satan was certainly as eccentric as Jimmy. And lest I forget — the Crowley/Page castle is the place that Jon Bonham succumbed to alcohol poisoning — either during (or after) a jam session with Jimmy. I will not be discussing the legend of Jimmy\’s purported Faustian arrangement in this essay.
Suffice to say my buddy, guitarist extraordinaire, Rich Cohen, suggests that there was no thievery or influence RE: \”Taurus\” on \”Stairway.\” But he, like the courts, just seems to take into account the downward chord progression. My ears detect a melody in \”Taurus\” that is replicated in \”Stairway\” — as Randy California\’s apparently did also. Unfortunately, the court did not take this into account — electing to make their comparisons in different fashion.
Naturally, the small passage in \”Taurus\” is not reflective of the entirety of \”Stairway\” — and I\’m betting that Jimmy and Robert truly don\’t recall meeting members of SPIRIT after so many years; or, whether \”Taurus\” was performed at one of the venues shared by SPIRIT and ZEPPELIN. One-thing-for-sure, however, is that Jimmy admitted to \”liking\” SPIRIT\’s music and owning a copy of their debut album. So, if I\’m sitting in my castle, in a potentially altered state — just listening to my collection — there is the distinct possibility that something I have listened to has stuck in my unconscious. Wasn\’t this the earliest form of music sampling?!
At least the court house was able to rock out to \”Stairway to Heaven\” in its entirely at trial\’s end…leading me to believe that the judge is a ZEP fan!