Jimmy Page Sued Over Dazed And Confused
Jimmy Page is being sued by the man who wrote and first recorded the song Dazed And Confused.
Jake Holmes, an American folk singer, claims that Page and Led Zeppelin infringed his copyright, as his version came out two years prior to Zeppelin’s more famous one, on their self-titled, debut album. However, even if he is successful in this federal law suit (filed in California), Holmes could only claim money owed during the past three years, due to the statute of limitations.
The story started in 1967 when Holmes recorded this song for his debut album “The Above Ground Sound” Of Jake Holmes. What made it unusual was the whole record was done with just bass, guitar and vocals – no drums.
Released in June 1967, the album wasn’t at all well received, but on August 25 the same year, he supported The Yardbirds (featuring Page) when they played at the Village Theater in Greenwich Village, New York. So impressed were the British band with the song that they decided to develop their own version. This was a much longer one, with Page using a violin bow on his guitar.
Although The Yardbirds never did a studio version of this, there have been a couple of live recordings put out. One from a French TV show in March 1968 (which cropped up on a live album released in 2000) actually has Holmes down as writing the song.
By the time Zeppelin recorded Dazed And Confused, Page had changed so much of the song – lyrically and musically – that he was credited as the sole writer. Holmes did try to contact Page, but with no luck. However, he always refused to take legal action – until now.
In his 2008 book When Giants Walked The Earth: A Biography Of Led Zeppelin, Mick Wall interviewed Holmes about this controversy (reprinted in Classic Rock Issue 130). This is what the man said at the time:
“I didn’t think it (Dazed And Confused) was that special. But it went over really well, it was our set closer. The kids loved it – as did the Yardbirds, I guess.”
He says it wasn’t until “way later” he first became aware that Page had recorded his own version with Zeppelin – and given it his own songwriting credit. His initial reaction was to be blasé. “I didn’t give a shit. At that time I didn’t think there was a law about intent. I thought it had to do with the old Tin Pan Alley law that you had to have four bars of exactly the same melody, and that if somebody had taken a riff and changed it just slightly or changed the lyrics that you couldn’t sue them. That turned out to be totally misguided.”
Over the years, he says, he has “been trying to do something about it. But I’ve never been able to find [a legal representative] to really push it as hard as it could be pushed. And economically I didn’t want to be spending hundreds and thousands of dollars to come up with something that may not work. I’m not starving, and I have a lot of cachet with my kids because all the kids in their school say, ‘Your dad wrote Dazed And Confused? Awesome!’ So I’m a cult hero”.
In terms of royalties, he just wants “a fair deal. I don’t want [Page] to give me full credit for this song. He took it and put it in a direction that I would never have taken it, and it became very successful. So why should I complain? But give me at least half-credit on it”.
The fact that Dazed And Confused was destined to become one of Led Zeppelin’s great set-piece moments, he astutely points out, “is partly the problem… For [Jimmy Page], it’s probably more difficult to wrench that song away from him than it would be any other song”.
You can make your mind up now as to whether Holmes’ law suit has any validity
About as valid as James Brown’s daughters claiming to have written one of their father’s song’s when one was three years old. and the other wasn’t born, as for this shite, differn’t lyrics, differn’t music, apart from the words dazed and confused I don’t see the claim.
If I was this prick I would concentrate on learning to play the guitar properly first.
Uncle mort, instead of insulting Jack Holmes, thanks him for having contributed to a great Led Zep Song. Jack Holmes should get the credit he deserve – and the money that goes with it. Don’t tell me Page can’t afford.
Not sure what song Uncle Mort just heard but you don’t have to be a musicologist to see that Holmes’ song has been nicked! Not heard the original until today and I love it! Wonder what the rest of the album’s like? If it’s as trippy as D&C I bet it’s ace! Come on Pagey, give the guy a co-write credit at least!
Quoting Homer Simpson
“There’s Jimmy Page, the greatest thief of American black music who ever walked the earth.”
“any validity”?
It’s the same bloody song – clue: it’s called “dazed and confused”!
That shouldn’t detract from the might of Zep – with Page’s squeal and Bonham’s thunder this is the blueprint for heavy rock.
No question that Page changed the song around quite a bit, but it’s also clear that it’s the same song. It would be nice if Zep would give Holmes the same courtesy they do Memphis Minnie on “When the Levee Breaks” (and should give Blind Willie Johnson for “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”).
Uncle Mort is (tone)-deaf. Of course this song was Holmes’, and of course Page based the LZ classic on it. In the late ’60s, these things happened a lot. Purple’s Mandrake Root was based on Bill Parkinson’s song Lost Soul. Paranoid was based on Communication Breakdown! Facts. Even the eerie atmosphere of D & C was created by Holmes. Page rearranged it like the genius he is, but don’t tell us he had the original idea.
Obviously heavily “influenced”. Even the title is the same. If Memphis Minnie can get a co-writing credit for When The Levee Breaks, Holmes surely deserves one for Dazed & Confused. Zep have always been my favourite band, but I never understood the reluctance to credit their sources. Lemon Song (Howlin’ Wolf’s Killing Floor), Whole Lotta Love (Muddy Water’s You Need Love via Small Faces’ You Need Loving) and Black Mountain Side (Bert Jansch’s version of the traditional Blackwaterside) are some other examples of Zep “steals”. One thing to remember is that all the old blues guys used to nick each other’s stuff all the time. Willie Dixon gets credited with writing a load of songs that were circulating in various arrangements for decades before he claimed them. Not that that excuses Jimmy.
yes its a definite rip off !
Newsflash: All the blues rock bands of the late 60s-early 70s nicked stuff from the old blues players. Zeppelin is hardly alone in this.
Is uncle mort really Jimmy Page……………..
I think that a few of the tracks on Led Zeppelin borders on theft! Time to owe up guys!! Pay the man!
Yep, it certainly is the same tune. No doubt and Holmes deserves credit but, really, Page’s version is far superior. If the issue is that Pagey has been arrogant and ignorant then he is probably guilty as charged but his music, his arrangement and Plant’s vocals turn a forgettable sixties oddity into a majesterial masterpiece. There are other Zep directed charges a la Whole Lotta Love and Stairway but, again, Zeppelin’s versions are stupendously superior. I love Spirit and the late, great Randy California but Stairway is NOT Taurus: it’s similar but not the same. It was never any secret that Zeppelin derived their music from the Blues so why the shock/horror nonsense now? Sorry folks, Zeppelin were immense and petty jealousies will not change that. Get used to it.
Let’s face it the majority of songwriters get there influence and ideas from either the generation before or contemporary artists. Most often cite them as being an influence (and that’s recognition enough for most), but when a song is blatently copied or rehashed, then payment is due.
What is most annoying about Zeppelin though dates back to the 80s when “Kingdom Come” took a bit of a battering for ripping them off. Pot calling the kettle black perhaps ….
The version on the YARDBIRDS LP: LIVE AT THE ANDERSON THEATRE LP is called “Im so confused” and yes, page did rip it off.
so what who wrote what an who copied what!!! Even Lemmy says in “the metal years” decline of western civilisation they all copy from one another the fact is Led Zep are the greatest band EVER!! (well after whitesnake of course!! hehe!)
D&C is not the only plagarised sone. “Whole Lotta Love” was nicked from Howlin Wolf and Willie Dixon.
JIMMY PAGE IS A DISGRACE TO ALL SATAN WORSHIPERS—-he’s nothing but a two-bit thief…! hang page by his bullocks!
Pay-up, Jimmy.
I’d say he does deserve credit/money for it, whilst Page did do a hell of a lot with the song (I prefer the Led Zep version to the original, personally) but it wouldn’t have come about without Holmes’ version. He deserves more recognition for it.
There is a difference between “influence” and “blatant stealing”.
It’s high time Jake Holmes got his due for Dazed and Confused. It would have been nicer if Page had given him the credit and paid up voluntarily but there you go….
Anne Bredon has been getting her due and a shared credit for Babe I’m Gonna Leave You since 1990. I hope Holmes gets the something similar.
Zeppelin being my favorite band,I have to admit Jimmy Page certainly lifted the song.Even though the original is a lot different than Zep’s,the obvious is there.What I don’t understand is why it took this man soo long to take legal action? I hope Page gives him the credit due,though this seems to be more about money for him than actual credit since neither party is getting younger.
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I’ve been a huge fan of Jake Holmes for many years. Check out his second album from 1968 “A Letter To Katherine December”. It’s a lost psych classic. Led Zepp I couldn’t give you tuppence for. A few good tunes but horribly overblown and very overrated. Of course it’s the same song. There’s reworking a riff and there’s blatant plagarism and this is clearly the latter. Time to pay what is due Jimmy and quit thinking you’re so bloody original.
No doubt about it. The similarities are obvious. Jake Holmes deserves some credit.