From admiration to infringement: The Howlin’ Wolf connection to Led Zeppelin

Some consider them "The Biggest Band in the World," but Led Zeppelin's rapid ascent in rock music brought both immense fame and controversy. Known for their pioneering blend of blues, rock, and psychedelia, the band, comprising Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham, occasionally faced criticism for their heavy reliance on earlier blues compositions. One notable instance involved "The Lemon Song" from their 1969 album Led Zeppelin II, which drew heavily from Howlin' Wolf’s classic blues track "Killing Floor."

It was something they ended up having to say "Sorry" for. Performing "Killing Floor" in their early concerts, the group reworked it into "The Lemon Song," incorporating additional lyrical and musical influences. To some, it was fair game, but to others, it's sort of like getting a "happy meal" with unlicensed toys inside. Maybe you'll still accept it, but it's a bit tacky nonetheless.

Sure enough, there are always some excuses. After all, it's pretty rare, even if not impossible, to find a band that 100% has a "do your own thing" philosophy. However, this adaptation of Howlin' Wolf led to legal repercussions for this massive rock band.

Think of it this way: In contrast, Weird Al is famous for parodying artists, such as turning a song about love being in jeopardy into a song about the game show "Jeopardy!" What's the difference? Unlike some performers, Weird Al has always been pretty cautious about making sure he can "get away with it" when it comes to his song parodies.

More specifics on when Howlin' Wolf sued Led Zeppelin

In December 1972, Arc Music, the owner of Howlin’ Wolf's catalog, initiated a copyright infringement lawsuit against Led Zeppelin, despite the band ostensibly belonging to a different genre and having some different lyrics. The case was settled out of court, with a payment of $45,123 made to Howlin’ Wolf (real name Chester Burnett). It forever changed how people viewed Led Zeppelin, and the song "Killing Floor."

Additionally, subsequent reissues of Led Zeppelin II included a songwriting credit for Burnett​.

This legal episode highlighted Zeppelin’s broader pattern of borrowing from the works of influential blues musicians. At the same time, some Zeppelin songs, like "Whole Lotta Love" and "Kashmir," appear to be more original, and that may have been partly because the band found more of its own groove over time. Though they frequently incorporated musical elements without initial credit, this (and other legal challenges) likely prompted changes.

For example, Page and Plant admitted the admiration for artists like Joni Mitchell, with Plant later acknowledging that "Going to California" from 1971’s Led Zeppelin IV was inspired by Mitchell. He even referenced her name during live performances, illustrating their reverence for the artist​.

These experiences pushed Led Zeppelin to become more circumspect in acknowledging their inspirations, resulting in a more careful integration of their musical influences in later years​.