5 Facts About Led Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused" Rip-Off

Jake Holmes wrote and recorded the song in 1967, two years before Led Zeppelin released their version. Jimmy Page saw Holmes perform it live in New York, then took the arrangement, lyrics, and structure without credit or payment.

Holmes didn’t file a copyright lawsuit until 2010, over 40 years after the song’s release. The case settled in 2012 with undisclosed terms.

Page’s name remains on the original album credits despite the settlement. Zeppelin got away with the theft for decades.

Holmes’ original version is essentially the same song as Zeppelin’s, just quieter and less heavy. If you’ve heard Zeppelin’s, you’ve heard Holmes'.

Holmes is not a household name, but he is the rightful creator of the song. He deserves recognition for writing a classic that Zeppelin made famous without permission.