Jake Holmes, the American folk singer-songwriter, has filed a new lawsuit against Jimmy Page, Warner Chappell Music, and Sony Pictures. The suit, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that the defendants violated Holmes’ rights to the song “Dazed and Confused,” which he originally wrote in 1967. Holmes claims that Page and Warner Chappell breached a 2011 settlement agreement by releasing previously unreleased early Yardbirds live versions of the song and using it in Sony Pictures’ documentary “Becoming Led Zeppelin” without crediting or compensating him .
Origins of ‘Dazed and Confused’
Holmes’ “Dazed and Confused” debuted on his 1967 album The Above Ground Sound of Jake Holmes. That same year, he opened for the Yardbirds, featuring Jimmy Page, at a Greenwich Village gig. Inspired by Holmes’ performance, the Yardbirds began performing their own version of the song, with Page contributing new guitar riffs. When Led Zeppelin formed, Page brought the song along, and it appeared on their 1969 debut album, credited solely to Page .
Previous Legal Action
In 2010, Holmes sued Page for copyright infringement, citing a 1967 copyright registration for “Dazed and Confused.” The case was settled out of court in 2011, and subsequent releases, like the 2012 live album Celebration Day, credited the song as “Jimmy Page; inspired by Jake Holmes” .
Alleged Breach of Settlement
The new lawsuit alleges that Page and Warner Chappell breached the 2011 settlement by releasing early Yardbirds live recordings of “Dazed and Confused” and featuring the song in the 2025 documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin, without proper credit or compensation to Holmes. Holmes is seeking damages of at least $150,000 per instance of infringement under U.S. copyright law .
Ongoing Controversy
This case adds to the ongoing debate over Led Zeppelin’s songwriting credits and the band’s history of alleged musical appropriation. Representatives for Warner and Sony have not commented on the lawsuit, and Holmes’ attorney has also declined to comment .
