New York, NY – Don Henley, co-founder of the legendary rock band Eagles, took the stand at a trial in New York and expressed his adamant belief that the lyrics to iconic songs like Hotel California belong exclusively to him. Henley, during his testimony, asserted, “I always knew those lyrics were my property. I never gifted them or gave them to anybody to keep or sell.”
The trial revolves around three individuals – rare-book dealer Glenn Horowitz and rock memorabilia enthusiasts Craig Inciardi and Edward Kosinski – who are accused of attempting to sell approximately 100 handwritten pages of Eagles’ lyrics. Prosecutors claim that the trio fabricated stories about the ownership history of the documents in an effort to profit from them and evade Henley’s demands.
Henley maintains that he retained ownership of the lyrics drafts, which offer insights into the creation of numerous 1970s rock hits, including those from the Eagles’ seminal album, Hotel California. The dispute centers on how the legal-pad pages transitioned from Henley’s possession in California to the biographer’s residence in New York’s Hudson Valley and eventually to the defendants in New York City.
In defense, lawyers for the accused assert that the trio rightfully acquired and possessed the documents, which they obtained from a writer who had worked on an unpublished Eagles biography many years ago. While Henley argues that he only provided the lyrics drafts to the writer, Ed Sanders, for research purposes, prosecutors raise questions about the legitimacy of their circulation.
Sanders, who sold the pages to Horowitz, has not faced any charges in connection with the case. The manuscript for the Eagles biography, dating back to the band’s breakup in 1980, has also become a focal point in the trial, shedding light on Henley and Glenn Frey’s interactions with the writer.
Despite the legal proceedings, Henley continues to focus on his musical career, with the Eagles scheduled to perform in Hollywood, Florida, soon. The trial is anticipated to last several more weeks as additional witnesses are expected to testify, delving further into the intricate web of ownership and history surrounding the disputed lyrics sheets.