12 Controversial Songs That Were Stolen

By Sean O'Meara / June 17, 2020

11. 'Last Nite' - The Strokes

Where It Was Stolen From: 'American Girl' - Chuck Berry

Things didn't get legal, but according to Tom Petty - the victim of plagiarism more than once - The Strokes freely admit to "borrowing" the riff, strumming pattern and drum beat from his version of Chuck Berry's American Girl.

It's not an exact lift, but the distinctively hollow nature of the octave-based guitar riff, coupled with the ascending bass line and identically accented drum beat of Last Nite, the "feel" is at least as similar as Blurred Lines and Got To Give It Up. It's a good job Petty isn't petty.