ONTD Original: 10 Cases of White Boy Rock Thievery
OP is not yet mentally prepared to study for the MCAT, so she is churning some more clownery. With the announcement of the recent class of inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I think it’s important to note how some of these revered bands have met some shaky ground. OP will include the song that is shrouded in as much critical acclaim as controversy. Now, OP loves some of these acts but it’s important to note that ummmmmm white men are really the OGs of thievery. Here OP will include the song and that what was the ahemmm… song of inspiration. Is it theivery? Originality? Should the Hall of Fame accolade be stripped?
10. Radiohead - “Creep” ripped from The Hollies “The Air that I Breathe”
Yes, Radiohead’s biggest hit stole its chord progression from the 1970s pop rock band. The writers of the song sued and received co-writing credit with some royalties. No wonder they had to deliver on OK Computer. In a weird twist of fate: One of the writers of “The Air that I Breathe” is Albert Hammond, Sr., father of The Strokes guitarist. The Strokes hired and then fired longtime Radiohead Nigel Godrich who was to collaborate on the group’s second album, Room on Fire.
9. Nirvana - “Come as You Are” ripped from Killing Joke’s “Eighties”
Y’all this shit sound exactly the same just different speeds. Turns out the band was never able to sue Nirvana for the stolen riff for reasons unknown and let’s be real before Cobain’s passing Killing Joke would’ve gotten a shit ton of money from his estate.
Mr. Cobain from the grave:
8. Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused” ripped from Jake Holmes… “Dazed and Confused”
Shout out to the ONTD member who tried to tell OP that Led Zeppelin was full of original compositions. Well, stay tuned boo. The original was written by folk singer Jake Holmes in 1967. A little known group known as The Yardbirds saw Holmes perform this on tour, with the band “rearranging” the song for themselves. The Yardbirds’ guitarist Jimmy Page was then adapted for Led Zeppelin. For years Holmes tried to contact Page about the reworked song but was ignored until Holmes filed a lawsuit with the matter being settled out of court. Holmes now shares a credit that he inspired the song.
7. Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph” ripped from Matt Cardle and collaborators’ “Amazing”
Are we really surprised that professional schlub, low key racist Ed Sheeran was also a thief? Basically the four songwriters of “Amazing” filed a 20-million-dollar lawsuit for copyright infringement citing the “striking similarities”. The lawsuit was privately settled with the bridge troll not having to admit any guilt.
6. Oasis’ “Whatever” ripped from Neil Inness’ “How Sweet to Be an Idiot”
Noel Gallagher claims he wrote this diddy, but old comedy geezer Neil Innes caught wind of that youth bullshit and sued the band for plagiarism. Oddly enough Innes creates parody, and Oasis is quite self-important so how Gallagher chose this tune from which to steal is quite humorous. Innes must now be listed as a co-writer on the song.
5. Nickelback's "Figured You Out" ripped from Econoline Crush's "All That You Are" (Who would even come out and admit this shit?)
So this band has filed a copyright infringement suit against Nickelback for ripping from their 1997 single. For the love of Gawd, please don't click on this.
4. Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" ripped Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down"
OP really doesn't know much about this dude except that y'all hate him. So have at it, Petty and co-writer Jeff Lynne received 12.5% of songwriting credits. Petty was quite nice about the whole situation saying he didn't think that plagiarism was the intention but glad everyone came to nice agreement.
3. The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony" ripped from Andrew Loog Oldham's "The Last Time" and Rolling Stones "The Last Time" (which was ripped from The Staple Sisters "This May Be the Last Time")
Everyone knows of this meta thievery considering The Rolling Stones made their career of ripping from black blues musicians and gospel singers. The Verve was only supposed to use a small snippet of the orchestral version "The Last Time" well alledgedly Ashcroft and co. used a bigger portion than the agreement so the Stones' manager, Allen Klein sued for 50% of the royalties then he wanted 100% and welp he got it. And Stalactites Jagger and Richards got writing credits.
2. Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Dani California” ripped from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers'"Mary Jane's Last Dance"
This was doesn't really have a lot of drama but Anthony Kiedis is OP's arch nemesis so he and his shitty band are at number two. The chord progression in both songs is quite similar but this was not a big deal to dad rock legend Tom Petty who noted that many rock songs sound the same.
1. Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” ripped from Spirit’s “Taurus”
This band is chock full of thievery. Often considered the greatest rock song in history and one of the most popular songs of all time, someone would try to hitch their wagon to get some of that classic rock coinT. Taurus is actually a 1968 instrumental so Robert Plant could throw Page under the Greyhound. Oddly, a copyright infringement lawsuit was only filed a few years ago due to Spirit’s estate not having enough financial resources to fund the lawsuit. A judge ruled that there were strong enough similarities in both songs to take the case to a jury. But the jury decided the similarities did not amount to infringement, however they were not allowed to hear “Taurus”. OP also thinks given the popularity of Zeppelin’s version clouds their judgment of being unbiased toward Spirit’s claims. This verdict was appealed and the band’s estate won their appeal for a new evidentiary hearing. Apparently if the lawsuit occurred decades earlier and the members of Spirit would’ve won, they’d apparently be about $500 million richer. (OP is currently wondering if she wrote a song that was potentially stolen.) This lawsuit is still ongoing.
Sources 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 and useless trivia I know
10. Radiohead - “Creep” ripped from The Hollies “The Air that I Breathe”
Click to viewYes, Radiohead’s biggest hit stole its chord progression from the 1970s pop rock band. The writers of the song sued and received co-writing credit with some royalties. No wonder they had to deliver on OK Computer. In a weird twist of fate: One of the writers of “The Air that I Breathe” is Albert Hammond, Sr., father of The Strokes guitarist. The Strokes hired and then fired longtime Radiohead Nigel Godrich who was to collaborate on the group’s second album, Room on Fire.
9. Nirvana - “Come as You Are” ripped from Killing Joke’s “Eighties”
Y’all this shit sound exactly the same just different speeds. Turns out the band was never able to sue Nirvana for the stolen riff for reasons unknown and let’s be real before Cobain’s passing Killing Joke would’ve gotten a shit ton of money from his estate.
Mr. Cobain from the grave:
8. Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused” ripped from Jake Holmes… “Dazed and Confused”
Shout out to the ONTD member who tried to tell OP that Led Zeppelin was full of original compositions. Well, stay tuned boo. The original was written by folk singer Jake Holmes in 1967. A little known group known as The Yardbirds saw Holmes perform this on tour, with the band “rearranging” the song for themselves. The Yardbirds’ guitarist Jimmy Page was then adapted for Led Zeppelin. For years Holmes tried to contact Page about the reworked song but was ignored until Holmes filed a lawsuit with the matter being settled out of court. Holmes now shares a credit that he inspired the song.
7. Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph” ripped from Matt Cardle and collaborators’ “Amazing”
Are we really surprised that professional schlub, low key racist Ed Sheeran was also a thief? Basically the four songwriters of “Amazing” filed a 20-million-dollar lawsuit for copyright infringement citing the “striking similarities”. The lawsuit was privately settled with the bridge troll not having to admit any guilt.
6. Oasis’ “Whatever” ripped from Neil Inness’ “How Sweet to Be an Idiot”
Noel Gallagher claims he wrote this diddy, but old comedy geezer Neil Innes caught wind of that youth bullshit and sued the band for plagiarism. Oddly enough Innes creates parody, and Oasis is quite self-important so how Gallagher chose this tune from which to steal is quite humorous. Innes must now be listed as a co-writer on the song.
5. Nickelback's "Figured You Out" ripped from Econoline Crush's "All That You Are" (Who would even come out and admit this shit?)
So this band has filed a copyright infringement suit against Nickelback for ripping from their 1997 single. For the love of Gawd, please don't click on this.
4. Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" ripped Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down"
OP really doesn't know much about this dude except that y'all hate him. So have at it, Petty and co-writer Jeff Lynne received 12.5% of songwriting credits. Petty was quite nice about the whole situation saying he didn't think that plagiarism was the intention but glad everyone came to nice agreement.
3. The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony" ripped from Andrew Loog Oldham's "The Last Time" and Rolling Stones "The Last Time" (which was ripped from The Staple Sisters "This May Be the Last Time")
Everyone knows of this meta thievery considering The Rolling Stones made their career of ripping from black blues musicians and gospel singers. The Verve was only supposed to use a small snippet of the orchestral version "The Last Time" well alledgedly Ashcroft and co. used a bigger portion than the agreement so the Stones' manager, Allen Klein sued for 50% of the royalties then he wanted 100% and welp he got it. And Stalactites Jagger and Richards got writing credits.
2. Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Dani California” ripped from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers'"Mary Jane's Last Dance"
This was doesn't really have a lot of drama but Anthony Kiedis is OP's arch nemesis so he and his shitty band are at number two. The chord progression in both songs is quite similar but this was not a big deal to dad rock legend Tom Petty who noted that many rock songs sound the same.
1. Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” ripped from Spirit’s “Taurus”
This band is chock full of thievery. Often considered the greatest rock song in history and one of the most popular songs of all time, someone would try to hitch their wagon to get some of that classic rock coinT. Taurus is actually a 1968 instrumental so Robert Plant could throw Page under the Greyhound. Oddly, a copyright infringement lawsuit was only filed a few years ago due to Spirit’s estate not having enough financial resources to fund the lawsuit. A judge ruled that there were strong enough similarities in both songs to take the case to a jury. But the jury decided the similarities did not amount to infringement, however they were not allowed to hear “Taurus”. OP also thinks given the popularity of Zeppelin’s version clouds their judgment of being unbiased toward Spirit’s claims. This verdict was appealed and the band’s estate won their appeal for a new evidentiary hearing. Apparently if the lawsuit occurred decades earlier and the members of Spirit would’ve won, they’d apparently be about $500 million richer. (OP is currently wondering if she wrote a song that was potentially stolen.) This lawsuit is still ongoing.
Sources 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 and useless trivia I know