Movies - TV
The Led Zeppelin Reference In Wayne's World Had To Follow 1 Paramount Rule
By ETHAN ANDERTON
In the beloved comedy "Wayne's World," a memorable scene unfolds when Wayne, played by Mike Myers, starts to play the iconic opening notes of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven."
However, he is abruptly stopped by a sign that reads "No Stairway to Heaven." This gag stems from a directive imposed by Paramount Pictures, the production company behind the film.
"I was told from the clearance department at Paramount that I had to stick with three notes, that's all I could do," director Penelope Spheeris explained in a 2022 interview.
This rule was likely imposed to avoid copyright issues, given that Led Zeppelin's music rights are notoriously expensive and the band is particular about how their music is used.