7 Controversial Led Zeppelin Rip-Offs That Took Bold Steps

Led Zeppelin’s music helped shape the sound of hard rock. But their early albums sparked years of legal battles. Some songs were based on earlier recordings, but the band didn’t always give credit where it was due. In many cases, Zeppelin borrowed lyrics, riffs, and melodies from blues artists and rock contemporaries. Some of these cases ended with lawsuits or out-of-court settlements. Others were just quietly corrected. This list highlights seven songs where the band took more than just inspiration—and the people who fought back to reclaim their work.

Bring It On Home

Blues singer Sonny Boy Williamson II recorded “Bring It On Home” in 1963. The song was written by Willie Dixon, who was a major figure in Chicago blues. When Led Zeppelin released their version in 1969, they kept the original intro and outro almost exactly the same.

However, they added a new middle section. Zeppelin credited the entire track to themselves on their second album. Arc Music, which owned the rights, sued them for copyright violation. The band claimed it was a tribute, but the law disagreed. The case ended in a private settlement. Dixon’s name now appears on later versions.

Since I’ve Been Loving You

Led Zeppelin’s 1970 song “Since I’ve Been Loving You” shares strong similarities with “Never” by Moby Grape. That track came out in 1968. Both songs follow the same slow blues structure in the same key, and even feature similar vocal phrasing and guitar tones.

Bob Mosely of Moby Grape pursued legal action. After many years, an out-of-court deal was made in 2005. Mosely was paid a settlement, but had to give up any claim to authorship forever. Despite the payment, Zeppelin never officially listed Mosely or Moby Grape in the credits.

Stairway to Heaven

Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” is known for its iconic guitar intro. But that famous opening sounds very close to “Taurus,” an instrumental song by the band Spirit. Spirit released “Taurus” in 1968. Zeppelin opened for Spirit on tour that same year.

The similarities between the songs led to a lawsuit. Randy California, Spirit’s guitarist, died in 1997, but his estate continued the legal fight. In 2016, a jury sided with Zeppelin after Jimmy Page testified. The case went to appeals, but ended in 2020 when the Supreme Court declined to hear it. Zeppelin kept full credit.

The Lemon Song

Led Zeppelin’s “The Lemon Song” heavily borrowed from Howlin’ Wolf’s 1964 track “Killing Floor.” Wolf was a major figure in the blues world, and the original track was already well known among rock bands. Zeppelin performed “Killing Floor” live during early shows.

But when they recorded it for their second album, they changed the name and added other blues lyrics from different artists. They then claimed full credit for the new song. In 1972, Arc Music filed a lawsuit and reached a settlement. Howlin’ Wolf was later listed as a co-writer and received royalties.

Whole Lotta Love

“Whole Lotta Love” was Led Zeppelin’s first big hit in the U.S. But the lyrics came straight from “You Need Love,” a 1962 song by blues icon Muddy Waters, written by Willie Dixon. The music was Zeppelin’s, but the words were almost copied word for word.

Robert Plant later admitted he lifted the lyrics. In 1985, Dixon filed a lawsuit and reached a private settlement. He gained credit as a co-writer and received a portion of the royalties. Despite the legal trouble, “Whole Lotta Love” remains one of Zeppelin’s most famous tracks.

Babe I’m Gonna Leave You

Anne Bredon first wrote and performed “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” in 1959. Joan Baez heard the song through a friend and recorded it in 1962. Baez credited it as a traditional folk song. When Zeppelin recorded their version, they followed her lead and gave no credit to Bredon.

Bredon didn’t know about Zeppelin’s version until the 1980s. After reaching an agreement in 1990, Zeppelin added her name to the songwriting credits. She also received back royalties. Bredon continued her career in the arts until her passing in 2019 at the age of 89.

Dazed and Confused

Jake Holmes released “Dazed and Confused” in 1967. He performed it while opening for The Yardbirds, which included Jimmy Page. Holmes later said the band copied his song almost immediately. Page took the song with him when he formed Led Zeppelin the next year.

Zeppelin’s version added new parts, but the core of the song remained Holmes’s. At first, Holmes didn’t sue. But in 2010, he filed a lawsuit. They settled in 2012, and later releases of the song include a note that it was “inspired by Jake Holmes.” Still, Zeppelin kept full credit for the track.