[IYAS9YAS]

It’s my understanding that it’s not even the members of Spirit who’ve brought this suit, but the trustee for the estate of one of the members. Is that correct?

[nickcarraway]

The trustee of the songwriter.

[IYAS9YAS]

It’s my understanding that it’s not even the members of Spirit who’ve brought this suit, but the trustee for the estate of one of the members. Is that correct?

Okay, so it's a trustee for the estate of founding member Randy California, and still-living original bassist Mark Andes filing the suit.

Why now? Why not back in 1971 when Stairway to Heaven was released?

[gigster]

You are correct, a trustee brought the suit against Page and Plant. I am a musician, and can say there are some similarities in Taurus to STH, but the song is so ubiquitous now, in terms of recognition and over four decades of airplay, that it would be hard to rule against Page and Plant. While Randy Wolfe(California) was a very talented guitarist, he was no Jimmy Page. I saw Spirit one time in my over forty years of concert-going. They were the back-up band to Bob Seger on Sept.4, 1975 at Cobo Arena, in Detroit, when Seger recorded his "Live Bullet" album, which is widely regarded as one of the best live rock albums ever recorded. My brother bought a block of twenty five seats on the main floor, and needless to say, it was quite a party.Spirit played their back-up set, and Randy California was so enthusiastic and pumped up playing, that he wouldn't end the set when the time came. So, ultimately, they cut the power to the amps and turned the house lights on in the arena. Then Seger came on and played his historic concert. And by the way, Detroit audiences were the greatest, as Seger said. That concert is still fresh in my memory forty years later.