TAURUS
“Taurus” is a rock instrumental by American rock band Spirit, originally released on their self-titled debut album in 1968. The track, composed by guitarist/singer Randy California, was recorded in November 1967. It has been alleged that Jimmy Page borrowed the descending guitar figure from “Taurus” for Led Zeppelin’s signature tune “Stairway to Heaven”. Led Zeppelin opened for Spirit in an early American tour, providing the possibility that Led Zeppelin had heard the Spirit song before “Stairway to Heaven” was written. (More from Wikipedia)
Like “Taurus”, “Jewish” was written by Randy California; he had been raised in a Jewish home.
Spirit was recently in the news when they won the first round in a long-simmering controversy with Led Zeppelin. The two bands had toured together during Led Zep’s first tour, and Randy California had long claimed that the opening chords for “Stairway to Heaven” were lifted from their 1968 instrumental song “Taurus”.
Reportedly for lack of funds, a copyright infringement lawsuit was not filed until May 2014 (by Randy Craig Wolfe’s heirs); and on October 21, 2014, the Judge in the case denied the request by Led Zeppelin’s attorneys to dismiss the case.
(November 2014)
