Jimmy Page Sued Over Dazed & Confused

Jimmy Page is being sued for copyright infringement over the song ‘Dazed & Confused.’

Folk singer Jake Holmes is suing Jimmy Page after he claimed that the Zep guitarist stole his song of the same name.

The case is particularly confusing as Page and Led Zeppelin do hold a separate copyright for their song after Page adapted it sufficiently by changing the lyrics and structure a little.

However, there is little doubt that Page "borrowed” the song from Holmes, who recorded the song for his 1967 album The Above Ground Sound Of Jake Holmes.

Holmes opened for the Yardbirds on tour in 1967, and the following year the Yardbirds started playing a version of the song called ‘I’m Confused’. When Jimmy formed Led Zeppelin he re-worked the song again into its current form and recorded it for their debut album in 1969.

Holmes claims that he tried to contact Page a couple of times over the years but Page had not responded as of 2001. Now, 43 years after the song was originally written, the matter will go to court.

Unfortunately for Holmes, even if he is successful in his lawsuit he will only be eligible for royalties accrued over the past 3 years due to the statute of limitations in the US which runs for 40 years.

Have a listen to Holmes’ version below and see if you think there’s a similarity: