4 Stolen Riffs From Rock History’s Past

There are only 12 musical keys to play on a guitar, and only so many chord structures to form. Therefore, the lines between stolen, lifted, or influenced are blurred. In some cases, these similarities are so uncanny that lawsuits are sought out. Here are 5 stolen guitar riffs from rock history’s past.

Cheap Trick – “She’s Tight” & Poison – “Talk Dirty To Me”

In 1982, Cheap Trick released “She’s Tight.” This song signaled a shift for Cheap Trick to a more polished 80’s rock sound. The band is credited as a major influence on 80’s rock groups such as Motley Crue and Guns ‘n’ Roses, so it’s not far-fetched to assume Poison was right there with them. The opening riff of both songs is nearly identical. Poison released “Talk Dirty To Me” in 1987, and the song reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Although Cheap Trick never legally responded, a Chicago band named Kid Rocker claimed they originally wrote the song. In 2011, Kid Rocker sued Poison for the song and three others, but the case was dismissed as “baseless.”

Led Zeppelin – “Stairway To Heaven” & Spirit – “Taurus”

Led Zeppelin and Spirit shared concert bills in 1968 and 1969, with Led Zeppelin opening for them on their first US tour. At one point, Led Zeppelin covered the Spirit song “Fresh Garbage.” Spirit released an instrumental “Taurus” in 1968, right in the midst of the two bands crossing paths. In 1971, Led Zeppelin released “Stairway to Heaven” on the album Led Zeppelin IV. The opening arpeggio riff of both songs bears an uncanny resemblance. In 2014, a copyright infringement suit was filed. Jimmy Page claimed the chord progression has “been around forever.” A jury found Led Zeppelin not guilty, as both song intros are not particularly unique.

Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit” & Boston – “More Than A Feeling”

For Nirvana, the most common comparison is between “Come As You Are” and Killing Joke’s song “Eighties.” Fans also heard similarities in Nirvana’s biggest hit “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” and Boston’s “More Than A Feeling from two decades earlier. Though there’s never been a direct connection between the songs, Nirvana did briefly cover “More Than A Feeling” at Redding Fest 1992 before ripping into “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” To many, this was the bands way of recognizing the claim and having some fun with it.

Metallica – “Enter Sandman” & Excel – “Tapping Into The Emotional Void”

Formed in 1983, Excel was originally a punk band. With the release of their 1989 album The Joke’s On You, the band shifted toward a thrash metal sound. “Enter Sandman” was released in 1991 and became Metallica’s most identifiable song. Comparisons were made to the Excel track “Tapping Into The Emotional Void.” In 2003, Excel considered legal action. Though they ultimately decided against it, that doesn’t mean all was forgotten. In 2025, the claim was brought to attention once again by former Metallica guitarist and Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine.

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