Eagles’ Hotel California Manuscript at Center of Unusual Criminal Trial
In the mid-1970s, the Eagles were working on a spooky, cryptic new song that would go on to become one of rock’s most iconic singles. “Hotel California” captured the imagination of listeners with its dark desert highway and luxurious yet ominous undertones. Now, nearly 50 years later, the handwritten pages of lyrics that shaped this legendary song have become the center of an unusual criminal trial.
Glenn Horowitz, a rare-book dealer, Craig Inciardi, a former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator, and Edward Kosinski, a memorabilia seller, are facing charges of conspiring to own and sell manuscripts of Hotel California and other Eagles hits without the right to do so. The three defendants have pleaded not guilty, arguing that they acquired the papers from a writer who had worked with the Eagles and committed no crime.
While clashes over valuable collectibles are not uncommon, criminal trials like this are rare. Most disputes are resolved privately or through legal agreements. However, the case of the Eagles manuscripts stands out for several reasons. Notably, the prosecutors’ star witness is none other than Don Henley himself, expected to testify between Eagles tour stops. This trial could offer a unique glimpse into the band’s creative process and their fast-paced life during the 70s.
At the heart of the trial are over 80 pages of draft lyrics from the Eagles’ 1976 album, Hotel California. These pages contain not only the words to the title track but also lyrics from other hit songs like “Life in the Fast Lane” and “New Kid in Town.” Irving Azoff, the Eagles’ manager, has described these documents as “irreplaceable pieces of musical history.”
The defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess stolen property and other offenses but not with stealing the documents themselves. The prosecution will have to establish that the papers were stolen, a claim that the defense vehemently denies. The key to this case lies in the Eagles’ interactions with Ed Sanders, a writer and co-founder of the 1960s rock band the Fugs. Sanders worked on an authorized Eagles biography in the late 70s and early 80s, but the book was never published.
Sanders sold the pages to Horowitz, who then sold them to Inciardi and Kosinski. Horowitz has been involved in ownership disputes before, including one related to papers linked to Margaret Mitchell, the author of Gone With the Wind. However, Sanders is not charged in this case, and it remains unclear what his role was in the sale of the manuscripts.
The varying explanations surrounding the provenance of the documents have raised suspicions. Sanders claimed to have obtained the pages from backstage dressing rooms or stage assistants, while another account suggested they came from Glenn Frey himself. However, Frey had passed away, making it impossible to verify this claim. Sanders approved some of these explanations, but it is unclear what he may have conveyed verbally.
Kosinski forwarded one explanation, approved by Sanders, to Henley’s lawyer and assured Sotheby’s auction house that Henley had no claim to the documents. Sotheby’s listed the Hotel California song lyrics for auction in 2016 but withdrew them upon learning about the ownership dispute.
As the trial unfolds, the prosecution will aim to prove that the defendants conspired to obscure the disputed ownership of the manuscripts despite knowing that Henley considered them stolen. Meanwhile, the defense will argue that they acted within their rights and acquired the papers legitimately.
This unusual criminal trial not only highlights the value and significance of musical artifacts but also offers a rare opportunity to delve into the creative process behind one of rock’s most iconic songs. As Don Henley takes the stand, music enthusiasts and legal observers alike await the outcome of this captivating case.
