# Talk:Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin is a glorified cover band, and there's not even a single mention of their blatant plagiarism--it's at least worth a "controversies" section.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.115.85.73 (talk) 20:00, 7 December 2021 (UTC)  Retroactively claiming this comment TheBSG (talk) 06:51, 30 December 2021 (UTC)

Led Zeppelin#Musical style makes a mention of allegations of plagiarism. It could be expanded with more information on relevant cases, like winning the Stairway to Heaven lawsuit. WP:CONTROVERSYSECTIONs are bad for WP:NPOV. And please don't attack the subject as a glorified cover band or allege blatant plagiarism unless it's been supported by a court of law. – Muboshgu (talk) 20:07, 7 December 2021 (UTC)
Also, List of Led Zeppelin songs written or inspired by others exists. – Muboshgu (talk) 20:07, 7 December 2021 (UTC)
This article is plain hagiography, what's written here is just whitewashing all the claims of plagiarism, given that Led Zeppelin must be the most-sued of all bands for plagiarism. It's not just that they take elements of other songs or improvise passages, but they claim to write songs that were clearly by other people, such as Dazed and Confused, and would not acknowledge it until they were sued. You need to have an entire section on plagiarism for the article to be considered unbiased, how this article got listed as a good article when it failed the criteria of a good article (like neutrality and broadness of coverage) is beyond me. Hzh (talk) 09:56, 22 December 2021 (UTC)
I truly love this band. I consider myself a huge fan - I collect memorabilia, I have every bootleg etc… and yet I consider it simply absurd the way the plagiarism and that their early albums consisted of so many covers is completely glossed over. It is an important fact of who they were and should be included to complete their story. I know a lot about it and will look to include something on this soon Zoso Jade (talk) 11:54, 28 December 2024 (UTC)
→Thank you, I had initially made my comment after linked this to a friend who asked about it off-hand when I mentioned their history of litigation, because I assumed it'd be a section of its own.  I may have made my original post in... a state, but I do think my point stands after reading the page again.  I am sorry for my editorialization and attacking the subject, but I am not the one to write an unbiased part about it--just kind of annoyed someone who's more objective and good at wikipedia hasn't mentioned it.  TheBSG (talk) 06:51, 30 December 2021 (UTC)

People have complained about this for years, and nothing was done about it. The article clearly shows bias in what is written. This is the only part written about plagiarism - The material on the first two albums was largely constructed out of extended jams of blues standards and folk songs. This method led to the mixing of musical and lyrical elements of different songs and versions, as well as improvised passages, to create new material, but would lead to later accusations of plagiarism and legal disputes over copyright. It reads like a fan's justification for what they did, and it is at best misleading, at worse deceptive. They were accused of plagiarism because they claimed writing credits alone and refused to acknowledge the original source even when asked to do so by the original authors. It also read like they used blues and traditional folk songs that's been around for a long time, when that isn't true for many songs - "Dazed and Confused" for example was written just a few years earlier by Jake Holmes (whatever people might argue about what Led Zeppelin added or changes made to the song, it's still essentially the same song). If nothing is done, then there is a case for reassessing its Good Article status and remove it if necessary for failure to comply with the Good Article criteria. Hzh (talk) 11:13, 26 January 2022 (UTC)
A year later and there's still no Controversy section.  Really reduces my faith in Wikipedia. TheBSG (talk) 19:23, 8 January 2023 (UTC)
There are plenty of people who consider them less than irrelevant..they brought a lot of darkness into the business..just because they sold a lot of records doesn`t mean they were good..they borrowed from everyone
There were plenty of people who couldn`t stand them even when they were current..loud and repetitive..Plant`s vocals were inane high school boy lyrics screaming from my point which was pathetic seeing how he actually can sing when he wants to..Morrison was tone deaf but at least he had some ability as a writer..there definitly needs to be a critism section in this article Anonymous8206 (talk) 23:05, 4 November 2023 (UTC)
WP:Criticism sections are discouraged, and the issue should be dealt with in the relevant existing sections for a chronological narrative. FunkMonk (talk) 22:55, 3 June 2025 (UTC)

Led Zeppelin has faced allegations of plagiarism throughout their career, particularly regarding their use of material from earlier blues and folk artists.

Jake Holmes, who recorded the song "Dazed and Confused" in 1967, alleged that Led Zeppelin's track of the same name from their debut album closely resembles his work. Holmes later filed a lawsuit, which was settled out of court.
Critics have noted the lyrics in "Whole Lotta Love" have similarities to Willie Dixon's "You Need Love," recorded by Muddy Waters in 1962. Dixon filed a lawsuit in 1985, which led to a settlement and a subsequent credit on the song.
Members of the band Spirit alleged that the opening riff of "Stairway to Heaven" was similar to their 1968 instrumental "Taurus." After years of litigation, a U.S. court ruled in favor of Led Zeppelin in 2016, a decision upheld on appeal in 2020.
Other Songs: "The Lemon Song" draws from Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor," and "Bring It On Home" initially gave no credit to Sonny Boy Williamson II, despite its similarities to his work. In some cases, retroactive credits were added, as with Anne Bredon for "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You."
The band has defended their work by stating they drew from a wide range of influences and were part of a long tradition of musicians reinterpreting and building upon existing material. Jimmy Page has stated, "It's the blues. It's been handed down through generations," emphasizing the common practice of reworking older material. TheBSG (talk) 04:38, 28 August 2024 (UTC)

@TheBSG: What's your point?  - FlightTime (open channel) 23:14, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

Remove the compilation album coda from the studio album discography that is specifically on the Led Zeppelin Wikipedia page since coda is technically a compilation album of outtakes from the band. Warbirdz (talk) 04:08, 10 September 2024 (UTC)

 Not done Please see the section Talk:Led Zeppelin#RfC on Coda being a studio album or a compilation album, with a blue background, above. "The consensus is that Coda should not be listed as a compilation album." - Arjayay (talk) 09:24, 10 September 2024 (UTC)

FROM
The band completed the [[Led Zeppelin Scandinavian Tour 1968|Scandinavian tour]] as the New Yardbirds, playing together for the first time in front of a live audience at Gladsaxe Teen Club at the Egegård School (today Gladsaxe School) festive hall, [[Gladsaxe Municipality|Gladsaxe]], Denmark, on 7 September 1968.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=54}} 
TO
The band completed the [[Led Zeppelin Scandinavian Tour 1968|Scandinavian tour]] as the New Yardbirds, playing together for the first time in front of a live audience at Gladsaxe Teen Club at the Egegård School (today Gladsaxe School) festive hall,<ref>Gladsaxe Skoleklub, Klausdalsbrovej 195, 2860 [[Søborg (Gladsaxe municipality)|Søborg]], Denmark</ref> [[Gladsaxe Municipality|Gladsaxe]], Denmark, on 7 September 1968.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=54}} 
69.181.17.113 (talk) 23:22, 15 April 2025 (UTC)

 Not done: The sentence is already sourced, and your supposed source is not a source. Meters (talk) 01:19, 16 April 2025 (UTC)

What I think should be changed: On the Led Zeppelin Wikipedia there's some misinformation, it refers to Johnny Burnette's COVER of Train Kept a Rollin' as the original several times although the song was written and sung by Tiny Bradshaw in 1951.
Why it should be changed:
References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):
205.222.3.112 (talk) 12:17, 14 October 2025 (UTC)

Note: As this does not look like a COI edit request, I've corrected the template to the semi-protected edit request one.  GoldRomean (talk) 18:26, 15 October 2025 (UTC)

 Not done: Johnny Burnette had his own version of the song, which is what Led Zeppelin covered.  I don't see any evidence they played the Bradshaw version of the song.  But if you do, please provide a source. meamemg (talk) 19:18, 15 October 2025 (UTC)