Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page disputes allegations that famous 'Stairway to Heaven' riff was a rip-off

The L.A. Times reports:

Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page took the stand in a copyright lawsuit Wednesday, defending himself against allegations he ripped off the famous opening guitar chords from the band’s epic hit “Stairway to Heaven.”

Page, his white hair pulled back in a ponytail, testified he had not heard “Taurus,” the song by the band Spirit he is accused of copying, until after he learned in recent years of online postings that made note of the alleged similarities.

"I knew I had never heard that before,” Page said of “Taurus” in a downtown courtroom packed with journalists, fans and curious onlookers. “It was so unusual I know I would have remembered hearing it."

Under questioning from Francis Malofiy, the attorney representing the estate of Spirit front man Randy Wolfe, Page conceded a copy of the album containing “Taurus” was in his record collection. He insisted he discovered the LP among his collection of more than 4,300 albums during a search he did after learning of the online comparisons between the two songs. He said he had no recollection of how he got the album.

Music on trial.