123 artists, including Linkin Park,Smashing Pumpkins,Tool,Korn, Heart,Tears for Fears and Nile Rodgers, have signed a court brief in support of Led Zeppelin in the upcoming rehearing of the "Stairway to Heaven" plagiarism trial.
A jury in 2016 found Zeppelin did not infringe on the copyright of an instrumental recording by the group Spirit titled "Taurus." However, that ruling was overturned by an appeals court, which ruled that the presiding judge had erred in not allowing jurors to hear audio versions of both songs and in instructing the jury that certain musical elements found in both songs were not protected by copyright.
The retrial will begin September 23rd.
The artists who signed the "Friend of the Court" brief state that they will "undoubtedly be affected by the outcome" of the case. They support the claim that "no evidence was presented at the trial that there was anything particularly original" and worthy of copyright protection in "Taurus," and that "Stairway to Heaven" has only "random similarities of commonplace musical elements" which, when removed, reveal that the two are "different melodies."
Francis A. Malofiy,the attorney representing Mike Skidmore, who filed the suit on behalf of the trust of the song's composer, the late Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe (a.k.a.Randy California), responded to the brief, calling it "unimpressive and dull" and "nothing more than a blast piece for the industry." He also pointed out that 123 songwriters represent only .02 percent of roughly 500,000 songwriters worldwide. (Blabbermouth)
Condolences to Bret Michaels, whose father, Wally Sychak, died on Sunday, three days after suffering cardiac arrest. Michaels says, “He was a great guy and loved by all. He was a veteran who loved this country, people, family, golf, betting on them horses, a cold beer and long drives. My father was a dreamer, he was my warrior, my friend & most important my Dad. After being resuscitated five times the doctor said he has never seen anyone in my Dad's serious condition fight like he did. Dad, you said be strong no matter what, but this pain in my heart & soul hurts so bad at the moment…so bad. I miss you already, we all do. I love you always Dad and I will see you one day on the other side."
The Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders joined Queen + Adam Lambert on stage Saturday in Philly during “Fat Bottomed Girls.” The Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders did the same last month in Dallas.