Jimmy Page is once again facing legal trouble over Led Zeppelin’s 1969 classic “Dazed and Confused” — this time from singer-songwriter Jake Holmes, who claims the legendary guitarist is misrepresenting songwriting credits in the newly released IMAX documentary “Becoming Led Zeppelin.”
Jake Holmes Files Federal Lawsuit Over Songwriting Credit
In a federal lawsuit filed this week, Holmes accuses James Patrick Page — Jimmy’s full legal name — of violating the terms of their 2011 settlement by crediting himself as the sole songwriter of “Dazed and Confused” in the documentary. Holmes says that agreement already established him as the legal copyright holder of the song, which he originally wrote and copyrighted back in 1967.
According to the legal documents, Holmes objects to the documentary’s claim that he merely “inspired” the song. He insists that he wrote the original version and that Page’s versions — with The Yardbirds and later Led Zeppelin — were directly based on his copyrighted composition.
Song History: From Holmes to Zeppelin
Jake Holmes first recorded “Dazed and Confused” in 1967. A year later, Jimmy Page, then a member of The Yardbirds, recorded a version of the song with slight lyrical and arrangement changes. Page went on to rerecord a heavier, extended version of the track with Led Zeppelin, releasing it on their 1969 debut album — but credited himself as the sole writer.
Holmes didn’t take legal action for decades, but eventually sued Page, and the two parties reached a private settlement in 2011. That agreement acknowledged Holmes’ claim to the copyright and resolved the issue — until now.
Lawsuit Targets New Documentary and Re-Releases
Holmes says the documentary’s credits falsely downplay his role, effectively breaching their settlement. He also claims he is not receiving royalties from recent re-releases of Yardbirds performances that include the song.
As part of the new lawsuit, Holmes is seeking:
- Full songwriting credit for “Dazed and Confused” in all future uses
- Financial compensation from the documentary’s profits and any Yardbirds reissues featuring the track
- An order barring further use of the song without proper credit and payment
No Response Yet From Page’s Legal Team
At the time of publication, Jimmy Page has not responded publicly to the lawsuit, and his legal team has yet to comment.
