BATTLE OF THE BREAKFAST BANDS – WHERE THERE ARE NO RULES. ONLY TWO BANDS. AND BREAKFAST.
Time: 8:45 a.m.
Location: My kitchen, Midwest, USA
Anything out of the ordinary?: Led Zeppelin is being sued over the opening guitar riff in “Stairway to Heaven.”
The claim is that Jimmy Page — allegedly — got the idea from a song called “Taurus” by the American band Spirit.
Zepp opened for Spirit on their first U.S. tour and no doubt would have heard the song, right?
More details on the ‘Stairway’ story here — but allow me to divulge the best part of this story, the guitarist for Spirit was a fella named Randy California!
Houses of the Holy Shit! That is the greatest name!
Honestly, is that a lost character from Fast Times at Ridgemont High? He must have made a cameo in a Cheech and Chong feature.
With a name like Randy California, you know he’s cool. Unfortunately, Randy died in 1997 so the suit is being filed by his trust and apparently the former bass player is involved, as well.
Anyhoo, if you listen yourself you can be the judge whether the suit has any merit …
With that, it’s time to battle these two (same) songs over breakfast.
What I ate: A plain bagel w/ bacon jam; strawberries; and three cups black coffee. (Yes, you heard that right, bacon jam, my mother made it and it is sublime.)
Facing Off: Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To Heaven” vs. Spirit’s “Taurus”
Band Selection Rationale: The lawsuit made news this week… and it just so happens that I eat breakfast…
Led Zeppelin
Spirit
Winner: Spirit, “Taurus”
Why: The song is an instrumental, pleasant enough and is quite a peaceful number for the morning coffee sipping.
Stairway, no doubt an iconic rock classic and great song, not great at breakfast it turns out.
Robert Plant’s vocals aren’t that far off of a whiny child, which I try at all cost to avoid in the morning, not easy.
Plus, I do feel the lick is a total rip-off. Sorry, Zepp, your “Levee has Broken” and it’s “Nobody’s Fault but Yours.”
I’m not sure how anyone can listen to these two songs and not hear the similarity.
The credit should be “Going to California.” Just give the dude his props.
BATTLE OF THE BREAKFAST BANDS – WHERE THERE ARE NO RULES. ONLY TWO BANDS. AND BREAKFAST.
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Other Battles:
* Christmas Bad Religion vs. Bad Religion
* KC and the Sunshine Band vs. Chic
* Har Mar Superstar vs. Prince
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Lead-In Photo Courtesy of Dana Nalbandian / Shutterstock.com
