LOS ANGELES (AP) – Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page demonstrated a deft touch at deflecting questions aimed at showing he might have lifted a passage for the introduction to the 1971 hit “Stairway to Heaven.”
Testifying in his defense Thursday in a copyright infringement case, Page showed little interest in comparing his composition with the obscure earlier instrumental work in question, “Taurus,” by the late Randy Wolfe, founder of the band Spirit.
Page was reluctant to compare the harmony, tempo or structure of the two songs, thwarting the lawyer representing Wolfe’s estate in the lawsuit against Led Zeppelin, Page and singer Robert Plant, as well as several music companies.
“You want to step through it,” attorney Francis Malofiy asked as he tried to get Page to discuss the “Taurus” sheet music, which is the work protected by copyright.
“Not necessarily,” Page replied, sending a ripple of comic relief through the gallery during an otherwise dull day of testimony in the case.