Hit bands, stolen tracks
Patrick Haynes
Issue date: 10/7/09 Section: The Edge
When smaller bands credit musicians that are world-renowned in their songs, it's usually one of the more sincere tributes that a group can make. But when a band with worldwide fame decides to rip off smaller artists, it's down right despicable. These are just a handful of cases where musicians rolling in fame have taken advantage of those still crawling their way to the top.
Led Zeppelin
Nearly every fan of classic rock has heard Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" from "Led Zeppelin II." However, very few fans know that this song steals lyrics from a song written by a Chess Studios session musician, Willie Dixon, called "You Need Love." The song, which was performed by famed blues musician Muddy Waters, contains many lyrics that were copy-and-pasted right into Led Zeppelin's hit song. The court case that would follow this blatant rip-off would settle in Dixon's favor in 1985, 16 years after its release.
The Beach Boys
To narrow down the songs that The Beach Boys have plagiarized from other artists is a near impossible task. "America's Band" has copied so many different bands that they even started suing each other for not crediting themselves in songwriting. One of the most glaring rip-offs, however, was found in one of the Boys' most popular songs, "Surfin' USA." This song so obviously rips off Chuck Berry's song "Sweet Little Sixteen," that Berry would eventually be given writing credit on "Surfin' USA."
Jet
In their relatively short career, Jet has managed to create for themselves quite a library of popular, radio- friendly hit songs. They also managed to steal instrumental lines nearly note-for-note along the way. One of the more notable cases occurred with the band's first and most popular single "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" The song steals the signature riff and drumbeat from Iggy Pop's 1977 single "Lust for Life." While Mr. Pop is well-known for his band The Stooges, his solo career drew much smaller success, commercially at least.
Led Zeppelin
Nearly every fan of classic rock has heard Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" from "Led Zeppelin II." However, very few fans know that this song steals lyrics from a song written by a Chess Studios session musician, Willie Dixon, called "You Need Love." The song, which was performed by famed blues musician Muddy Waters, contains many lyrics that were copy-and-pasted right into Led Zeppelin's hit song. The court case that would follow this blatant rip-off would settle in Dixon's favor in 1985, 16 years after its release.
The Beach Boys
To narrow down the songs that The Beach Boys have plagiarized from other artists is a near impossible task. "America's Band" has copied so many different bands that they even started suing each other for not crediting themselves in songwriting. One of the most glaring rip-offs, however, was found in one of the Boys' most popular songs, "Surfin' USA." This song so obviously rips off Chuck Berry's song "Sweet Little Sixteen," that Berry would eventually be given writing credit on "Surfin' USA."
Jet
In their relatively short career, Jet has managed to create for themselves quite a library of popular, radio- friendly hit songs. They also managed to steal instrumental lines nearly note-for-note along the way. One of the more notable cases occurred with the band's first and most popular single "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" The song steals the signature riff and drumbeat from Iggy Pop's 1977 single "Lust for Life." While Mr. Pop is well-known for his band The Stooges, his solo career drew much smaller success, commercially at least.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
kelly
posted 10/08/09 @ 6:40 PM CST
gee, looks like someone else watched cadillac records.
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