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Portrait of Jimmy Page

Photo: Avda · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Born in United Kingdom · Nationality British — Culture / media / celebrities

Jimmy Page

Music

Documented profile covering 8 controversies, including “New Jake Holmes lawsuit concerning 'Dazed and Confused' and 'Becoming Led Zeppelin' documentary, settled in 2025” and “'Stairway to Heaven': 'Taurus' plagiarism lawsuit ends with favourable verdict definitively upheld”.

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Profile No. 2297 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Jimmy Page

Photo: Avda · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
8Documented controversies+ 1 background event
17Sources
0Formal charge · all time
0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

01

May–August 2025

New Jake Holmes lawsuit concerning 'Dazed and Confused' and 'Becoming Led Zeppelin' documentary, settled in 2025

Civil / administrative proceedings

Jake Holmes again sued Page, along with rights holders and producers, in 2025, this time concerning Yardbirds recordings and their use in the 'Becoming Led Zeppelin' documentary, invoking rights arising from the 2011 settlement, among other matters.

State of the evidence
Settlement
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    ReutersJimmy Page, Sony Pictures sued by songwriter over Led Zeppelin songNews agencyVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    ReutersLed Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, Sony Pictures settle songwriter's 'Dazed and Confused' lawsuitNews agencyVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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02

2014–2020

'Stairway to Heaven': 'Taurus' plagiarism lawsuit ends with favourable verdict definitively upheld

Civil / administrative proceedings

The heirs of Spirit's Randy California argued that the introduction to 'Stairway to Heaven' copied 'Taurus'. A jury found no copyright infringement in 2016; after an appeal stage temporarily opened the way for a new trial, the en banc appellate court reinstated the favourable outcome.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The GuardianLed Zeppelin win Stairway to Heaven copyright battle as US supreme court declines casePressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    CBS NewsLed Zeppelin wins Stairway to Heaven copyright casePressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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03

2014

Public dispute with Robert Plant over another Led Zeppelin reunion

No legal proceedings

As speculation about a Led Zeppelin reunion persisted, Page said he was 'fed up' with what he regarded as Plant 'playing games' over the prospect. Plant subsequently claimed that he had proposed an acoustic collaboration which Page had rejected.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The GuardianJimmy Page: Robert Plant is playing games over Led Zeppelin reunionPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The GuardianRobert Plant: Led Zeppelin acoustic plans rejected by Jimmy PagePressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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04

1967–2011

'Dazed and Confused': Jake Holmes lawsuit settled confidentially in 2011

Civil / administrative proceedings

Jake Holmes, author of a song entitled 'Dazed and Confused' recorded in 1967, sued Jimmy Page in 2010, alleging that the version made famous by the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin derived from his work. The case was settled confidentially in 2011.

State of the evidence
Settlement
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The GuardianLed Zeppelin sued over Dazed and ConfusedPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    American Bar AssociationLitigation & Industry UpdatesVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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05

années 1970–2010

Aleister Crowley, Boleskine House and occultism: Enduring controversy over Page's image

No legal proceedings

Page's fascination with occultist Aleister Crowley, his purchase of Boleskine House — Crowley's former residence — and Led Zeppelin's imagery fuelled rumours of Satanism and occult messages for decades.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    The GuardianLed Zeppelin: Stairway to Heaven and the dark side of rockPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The GuardianBlaze destroys most of mansion once owned by Jimmy PagePressHigh reliability
  3. [3]
    Boleskine House FoundationBoleskine House and the myths around its futurefoundationHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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06

1969–1985

'Whole Lotta Love': Settlement with Willie Dixon over lyrics borrowed from 'You Need Love'

Civil / administrative proceedings

The lyrics of 'Whole Lotta Love' incorporated elements of Willie Dixon's 'You Need Love'. Dixon brought a lawsuit in 1985 and the case was settled out of court, with his name subsequently added to the songwriting credits.

State of the evidence
Settlement
Attribution
Shared responsibility

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    The GuardianLed Zeppelin: exclusive version of Whole Lotta LovePressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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07

1985 / critiques ultérieures

Live Aid 1985: Led Zeppelin reunion deemed disastrous and public dispute over responsibility

No legal proceedings

Led Zeppelin's Live Aid reunion became notorious for a seriously flawed performance, with a tired voice, guitar problems and insufficient rehearsal. Page subsequently blamed Phil Collins's contribution on drums, which Collins disputed.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The IndependentLive Aid: the show that rocked the worldPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The GuardianJimmy Page on guitars, Live Aid and Robert PlantPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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08

années 1970 / récits publics ultérieurs

Lori Mattix: Account of relationship with Jimmy Page when she was underage

No legal proceedings

Lori Mattix publicly recounted having a relationship with Jimmy Page when she was a teenager and below the legal age of consent, according to the account published by the Guardian. The history has undergone renewed critical examination in the #MeToo era.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    The Guardian‘I wouldn’t want this for anybody’s daughter’: will #MeToo kill off the rock’n’roll groupie?PressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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II. Documented background

Documented biographical or institutional milestones (elections, appointments, foundings, acquisitions…). These are not controversies and are not counted as such.

  1. 1969–années 1990

    'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You': Initial misattribution followed by recognition of Anne Bredon

    Led Zeppelin's version of 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' was initially released as a traditional song arranged by Jimmy Page, following an already incorrect attribution on Joan Baez's recording. Composer Anne Bredon was subsequently recognised and the songwriting credit corrected.

    Sources · 2
    1. AllMusic — Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - Led Zeppelin
    2. Shazam — Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - Led Zeppelin

III. Constellation of documented links

  • Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
  • Line width: number of documented references
  • Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (3)
  1. Phil Collins2 documented references
  2. Robert Plant2 documented references
  3. Aleister Crowley1 documented reference

IV. Has something changed?

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