Stairway to Heaven
Quick Summary
"Stairway to Heaven" is the best-known song by the British rock band Led Zeppelin. It was released on the band's untitled fourth album in 1971, often referred to as Led Zeppelin IV. The song, written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, is known for its gentle acoustic opening that builds to a powerful climax featuring a guitar solo.12
"Stairway to Heaven" is considered one of rock music's greatest songs and was added to the National Recording Registry by the U.S. Library of Congress in 2023 for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.2
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
Led ZeppelinStairway to Heaven…Zeppelin’s best-known song is “Stairway to Heaven”; its gentle acoustic beginning eventually builds to an exhilarating climax featuring a lengthy electric guitar solo. This combination of acoustic and electric sections was typical for Page, who from the band’s beginning was interested in juxtaposing what he called “light and shade.”…
Read More…Zeppelin’s best-known song is “Stairway to Heaven”; its gentle acoustic beginning eventually builds to an exhilarating climax featuring a lengthy electric guitar solo. This combination of acoustic and electric sections was typical for Page, who from the band’s beginning was interested in juxtaposing what he called “light and shade.”…
Read More
Robert PlantLed Zeppelin…the hard rock anthems “Stairway to Heaven,” “Rock and Roll,” and “Misty Mountain Hop,” Led Zeppelin IV sold more than 37 million copies worldwide and launched the band into superstardom. Led Zeppelin remained popular throughout the 1970s, but from 1975 to 1980 its success was tempered by hardship and…
Read More…the hard rock anthems “Stairway to Heaven,” “Rock and Roll,” and “Misty Mountain Hop,” Led Zeppelin IV sold more than 37 million copies worldwide and launched the band into superstardom. Led Zeppelin remained popular throughout the 1970s, but from 1975 to 1980 its success was tempered by hardship and…
Read More