10 Most Blatant Ripoffs In Rock History 

In the years before the song lawsuit became widespread, Led Zeppelin were practically the posterchildren for ripping off songs. Hell, even in their early days, it's hard not to see Jimmy Page's vision as anything more than a blues cover band at the best of times. Then again, even when you're not all that original, you still have to cover your tracks.

Using the traditional blues song Killing Floor as their template, The Lemon Song ballooned into one of Zeppelin's greatest sleaze rock tunes, having just as much swagger in Robert Plant's vocals as Page had in his guitar arsenal. Though they seemed to have put the old traditional tune in an entirely new context, that didn't stop the major lawyers from calling once Led Zeppelin II started selling like gangbusters.

Not wanting to take the entire split of the song, the writers of Killing Floor were ultimately given a bit of credit in the liner notes on all subsequent pressings. This wouldn't even be the last time Zeppelin found themselves in hot water, having to attribute When the Levee Breaks from another song by Memphis Minnie just two albums later. As much as Zeppelin filter the blues through their twisted rock and roll lens, you have to do a little better than just giving an old blues song a different name and hope for the best.