American musician Jake Holmes has since the early 1980s sought credit for writing “Dazed and Confused”, a song that Jimmy Page went on to perform with The Yardbirds. Led Zeppelin famously recorded and played their own version of the song, with their take on it becoming one of their best-known works.
On May 5, Holmes filed a lawsuit accusing Page, Warner Chappell Music and a series of other companies of copyright infringement and failing to properly credit him for writing the original song.
A previous lawsuit that Holmes filed in 2010 resulted in a 2011 settlement with Page and a revised songwriting credit for Led Zeppelin’s version that notes it was “inspired by Jake Holmes”.
We’ve compiled the below timeline showing the song’s journey from Holmes writing it in early 1967, all the way through to the current lawsuit.
Early 1967: Jake Holmes wrote and recorded Dazed and Confused
Holmes, a New York-based singer-songwriter, wrote “Dazed and Confused” in early 1967. “I’m dazed and confused, is it stay is it go? Am I being choosed? Well I’d just like to know,” he sings in the original version of the song.
“The song’s about a girl who hasn’t decided whether she wants to stay with me or not. It’s pretty much one of those love songs,” Holmes said in a 2001 interview with Shindig!
Holmes recorded the song while touring with his bandmates Tim Irwin and Rick Randall. “We went into the studio and did it in about two days,” Holmes told Shindig! “We knew everything cold because we’d been playing it so much and there were only the three of us. We recorded most of it live. We did it the way you did folk music. We didn’t have a budget.”
June 1967: “The Above Ground Sound” of Jake Holmes is released
In June 1967, Holmes’ debut album “The Above Ground Sound” of Jake Holmes was released by Tower Records. “Dazed and Confused” opened the second side of the album.
July 10, 1967: ‘Dazed and Confused’ was released as a single
On July 10, 1967, “Dazed and Confused” was released as a seven-inch vinyl single in the US.
July 18, 1967: Jake Holmes registered the copyright for ‘Dazed and Confused’ with the US government
US government records show Holmes registered the copyright for “Dazed and Confused” on July 18, 1967. The only songwriter listed was Holmes.
August 25, 1967: Jake Holmes opens for The Yardbirds in New York
Holmes supported The Yardbirds, then including Page on guitar, for two shows on August 25, 1967 at New York’s Village Theater.
Holmes played “Dazed and Confused” during his support slot, something that caught the attention of Yardbirds drummer Jim McCarty who heard the performance.
“That was the infamous moment of my life when ‘Dazed And Confused’ fell into the loving arms and hands of Jimmy Page,” Holmes told Shindig! in 2001.
“I didn’t think it was that special,” Holmes told journalist Mick Wall. “But it went over really well, it was our set closer. The kids loved it – as did The Yardbirds, I guess.”
August 26, 1967: Yardbirds drummer Jim McCarty bought Jake Holmes’ album.
The day after the Village Theater performance, McCarty purchased a copy of Holmes’ album in a New York record shop.
“I was struck by the atmosphere of ‘Dazed And Confused’,” McCarty said in a 1999 interview with Will Shade. “I went down to Greenwich Village and bought his album and we decided to do a version. We worked it out together with Jimmy contributing the guitar riffs in the middle.”
It has sometimes been claimed that Page also bought a copy of the album the day after the Village Theater performance. Yardbirds historian Greg Russo has quoted New York resident John Alusick who claims to have witnessed Page buying the album at Bleecker Bob’s Records.
1967 and 1968: The Yardbirds perform ‘Dazed and Confused’
Starting in 1967, The Yardbirds began performing a version of “Dazed and Confused” in their live shows. They would continue to perform the song until the band split up in July 1968.
The Yardbirds never recorded “Dazed and Confused” for an album or single release, but they did play the song for professionally recorded broadcast performances such as March 5 and March 6, 1968 at the BBC and March 9, 1968 for the French television show “Baton Rouge”.
A particularly important live recording of The Yardbirds performing “Dazed and Confused” live was made on March 30, 1968 when the band played the song during a show at New York’s Anderson Theater. This performance was recorded for a potential live album release.
October 1968: Led Zeppelin recorded ‘Dazed and Confused’ in the studio
Following the demise of The Yardbirds, Page encouraged the other members of his newly formed band Led Zeppelin to record a version of “Dazed and Confused”. It was one of the first songs that the band recorded in October 1968 for their debut album.
January 13, 1969: Led Zeppelin’s debut album is released
Led Zeppelin released the band’s debut album on January 13, 1969. “Dazed and Confused” closed the first side of the record. Only Page was given a songwriting credit for the song.
January 16, 1969: Led Zeppelin registered the copyright for ‘Dazed and Confused’ in the US
On January 16, 1969, Led Zeppelin registered the copyright for “Dazed and Confused” in the US. Page was given the sole songwriting credit for the song.
September 1971: Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page is released
In September 1971, with Page more famous than ever with Led Zeppelin, Epic Records dug out the recording of the March 30, 1968 Yardbirds performance in New York and released it on the album Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page.
The album included a performance of “Dazed and Confused”, although it was listed as “I’m Confused” on the album. The track was the only song on the album not to have any songwriting credit provided.
Page, unhappy about the release of a live performance that he had previously rejected, filed legal action to block further distribution of the album around a week after its release.
“The Anderson Theatre show I didn’t think was too bad,” McCarty told Shade. “Jimmy says Keith had a bad night. I think it was more a case of doing ‘Dazed and Confused’ pre-Zeppelin that made him withdraw it.”
1976: Epic tries again to issue Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page
In 1976, Epic parent company CBS again tried to release Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page, this time through its Columbia Special Products label. No songwriting information is printed for any of the songs, including “Dazed and Confused” which is again listed as “I’m Confused”.
Page again took legal action to block the release of the album.
Early 1980s: Jake Holmes writes to Jimmy Page
Holmes claims to have written to Page in the early 1980s asking to be credited for writing “Dazed and Confused.
“In the early 1980’s, I did write them a letter and I said basically ‘I understand it’s a collaborative effort, but I think you should give me some credit at least and some remunity.’ But they never contacted me,” Holmes claimed to Shindig! in 2001.
Speaking to Wall, Holmes elaborated on the content of his letter. “I’ve written letters saying, ‘Jesus, man, you don’t have to give it all to me. Keep half! Keep two-thirds! Just give me credit for having originated it,'” he claimed.
“I don’t want [Page] to give me full credit for this song,” he continued. “He took it and put it in a direction that I would never have taken it, and it became very successful. So why should I complain? But give me at least half-credit on it.”
December 7, 1995: Jake Holmes renews the US copyright for ‘Dazed and Confused’
Holmes renewed his copyright ownership of “Dazed and Confused” in the US on December 7, 1995.
Summer of 2000: A CD release of Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page was met with legal action
In 2000, Mooreland Street Records released Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page on CD. This time, “Dazed and Confused” was given its correct title. Unlike before, the song credits Holmes.
Its songwriting credit now read: “Jake Holmes, arr. Yardbirds”, giving Holmes the credit for writing the song and The Yardbirds the credit for arranging it.
This release was met with “legal action”, Shade has reported, likely from Page.
August 25, 2000: The Cumular Limit album was released
On August 25, 2000, The Yardbirds’ “Baton Rouge” performance of “Dazed and Confused” was released on the album Cumular Limit. Like the Live Yardbirds CD release from this year, Holmes was given a songwriting credit with The Yardbirds credited for its arrangement.
June 28, 2010: Jake Holmes filed a lawsuit against Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin and Atlantic Records
On June 28, 2010, lawyers representing Holmes sued Page, Led Zeppelin and Atlantic Records. In the complaint, Holmes accused Page of “knowingly and willfully” infringing on his copyright by passing off “Dazed and Confused” as his own work.
September 6, 2011: Jake Holmes reached a settlement agreement with Jimmy Page
Folllowing Holmes’ lawsuit, an out of court settlement was agreed with Page on September 6, 2011. The exact details of the settlement were unknown until a portion of it was quoted in Holmes’ May 5, 2025 lawsuit.
According to Holmes’ second lawsuit, this 2011 settlement included an agreement that “Holmes created and had and has complete ownership of the Holmes Composition and the unrestricted right in perpetuity, throughout the World, to use, license, and exploit the Holmes Composition in any manner he sees fit.”
December 5, 2011: The Yardbirds release Glimpses 1963–1968
Months after Holmes reached an agreement with Page, The Yardbirds released a box set titled Glimpses 1963–1968. A recording of “Dazed and Confused” was included, credited to “Jake Holmes, arr. Yardbirds”.
January 17, 2012: Jake Holmes’ lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice
Following the settlement agreement, Holmes’ lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice on January 17, 2012, meaning he was unable to file the case again.
November 19, 2012: Celebration Day is released
Led Zeppelin released Celebration Day, an album and film of the band’s December 10, 2007 London reunion performance on November 19, 2012.
For the first time, Holmes was credited for Led Zeppelin’s version of “Dazed and Confused”. The album’s credits for the song read: “Jimmy Page; inspired by Jake Holmes”, likely specific wording that was agreed in the settlement the previous year.
June 2, 2014: A remastered version of Led Zeppelin’s debut album was released
On June 2, 2014, Page released a remastered version of Led Zeppelin’s debut album. Like Celebration Day, the “inspired by Jake Holmes” songwriting credit was printed on the album.
November 5, 2017: Jimmy Page releases Yardbirds ’68
On November 5, 2017, Jimmy Page released through his website a remastered and cleaned up version of the live recording of The Yardbirds’ March 30, 1968 performance.
Now titled Yardbirds ’68, this release included the live performance of “Dazed and Confused” from that night.
The album’s liner notes credited this version of “Dazed and Confused” to “Jimmy Page, inspired by Jake Holmes”, the same text used in recent Led Zeppelin releases. This was a departure from modern Yardbirds releases that had been using the credit “Jake Holmes, arr. Yardbirds”.
February 7, 2025: ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ was released in cinemas
“Becoming Led Zeppelin”, the feature-length documentary about the origins of Led Zeppelin, premiered on February 7. The film contains performances of “Dazed and Confused” by both The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin.
In the film, Page explains that “Dazed and Confused” was “inspired by Jake Holmes”. At the time, the film’s credits for The Yardbirds performance of “Dazed and Confused” read: “Written by Jimmy Page”, without any mention of Holmes.
April 4, 2025: ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ was released online
On April 4, “Becoming Led Zeppelin” was made available to buy or rent online. The film’s credits now had an updated entry for the Yardbirds “Dazed and Confused” performance. This brought it in line with the 2017 Yardbirds ’68 release, but stopped short of a full songwriting credit.
April 14, 2025: Jake Holmes’ lawyer sent out cease and desist notices
On April 14, Holmes’ lawyer sent cease and desist notices via email to companies connected to “Becoming Led Zeppelin” ordering them to stop alleged copyright infringement over their use of “Dazed and Confused”. According to Holmes’ new lawsuit, these demands were ignored.
May 5, 2025: Jake Holmes filed a new lawsuit over ‘Dazed and Confused’
On May 5, Holmes filed a second lawsuit. In it, he accused Page, Warner Chappell Music and a series of companies connected to “Becoming Led Zeppelin” of copyright infringement and of failing to properly credit him for “Dazed and Confused”.
The filmmakers “knew or should have known before releasing the Film for national and international distribution that their use of the Holmes Composition without Plaintiff’s authorization would constitute copyright infringement,” the complaint alleges.
Looks – again – like a money thing. If Holmes agreed with the songwriting credits on 2011, then this is just ridiculous. Well, there are other big reasons behind when things looks ridiculous: big money… and lawyers!!! What about the Supershow movie, originally they had that version of Dazed there, but no lawsuit there. oh wait a minute.. not enough money maybe?
Lots of people talkin’
Few of them know
Dazed and Confused was
Created by Holmes ….yeahee!
you dont give credit the wolf is always at the door but in defence of page he did make the song into a classic epic especially live where by 1975 the song was clocking in at well over half a hour a pure high light to there live set maybe in some ways holmes ows a lot to page after all who ever heard of jake holmes before all this hassle blew up page sure as put the bloke in the spotlight
This is a waste of time and will be tossed out of the court.
Thanks LedZepNews for the thorough research, and making things step for step clear.
My conclusion is that before releasing the movie, the director and his company had to ask Jake Holmes for permission for the use of Dazed and Confused. They forgot, so in that case, the right to copy (use the song) is infringed.
I guess this will again be settled out of court…