Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has settled a long-running legal dispute over the songwriting credits for the iconic track “Dazed and Confused.” According to Billboard, the case was resolved through a confidential settlement agreement involving songwriter Jake Holmes, who originally wrote and recorded the song in the 1960s.
The lawsuit, filed by Holmes, named Page, music publisher Warner Chappell, and Sony Pictures as defendants. Holmes accused them of violating his rights by using the song without proper credit or permission, particularly in a recent Led Zeppelin documentary. On Friday, new court filings in a California federal court revealed that all parties involved had successfully resolved the dispute and were in the process of finalizing a written settlement.
This marks the end of a decades-long conflict between Holmes and Page that dates back to the late 1960s. Holmes originally wrote “Dazed and Confused” in 1967, describing it as a folk-style love song about emotional uncertainty in a relationship. His version caught the attention of The Yardbirds, a band that featured Jimmy Page. They began performing a modified version of the song live, a version that would later evolve into the heavier, blues-rock version Led Zeppelin released in 1969.
Holmes first sued Page in 2010, claiming his song had been used without proper credit or compensation. That case was settled privately in 2011, and Led Zeppelin’s releases were adjusted to list the song as “Jimmy Page, inspired by Jake Holmes.” However, the new lawsuit was prompted by the use of the song in a film about the band, where Holmes’ name was not mentioned at all.
