New York, New York – Glenn Horowitz, Craig Inciardi, and Edward Kosinski will stand trial for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to own and sell manuscripts belonging to the Eagles.
The trial, set to open on Wednesday, centers around the handwritten pages of the popular rock song “Hotel California,” penned by Don Henley and Glenn Frey in the mid-1970s. The accused individuals are facing charges of conspiring to possess and attempt to sell these stolen manuscripts without the legal right to do so.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty, with their legal representatives arguing that they have not committed any crimes. However, the Manhattan district attorney’s office alleges that the accused intentionally concealed the disputed ownership of the documents, despite being aware that Henley had reported the pages as stolen.
While conflicts over valuable collectibles are not uncommon, criminal trials of this nature are rare. Many disputes involving such artifacts are typically resolved through private negotiations, lawsuits, or the agreement to return the items.
What sets this particular case apart is the expected testimony of Eagles band member Don Henley, who is set to speak during breaks in the band’s ongoing tour. The non-jury trial presents a unique opportunity to gain insight into the band’s creative process and the era of 1970s rock stardom.
At the heart of the matter are over 80 pages of draft lyrics from the Eagles’ 1976 album “Hotel California,” including the title track which features one of classic rock’s most iconic riffs and memorable lyrics. The dispute also encompasses lyrics from songs such as “Life in the Fast Lane” and “New Kid in Town,” with the band’s manager, Irving Azoff, describing the documents as “irreplaceable pieces of musical history.”
The accused individuals are facing charges of conspiracy to possess stolen property and various other offenses, although they are not accused of physically stealing the documents. The defense maintains that the documents were not stolen, and the outcome of the trial may hinge on the Eagles’ interactions with writer Ed Sanders, who worked on an authorized biography of the band in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The story of the Eagles manuscript trial is one marked by intrigue and legal wrangling, shedding light on the complexities of ownership and provenance in the world of rare and valuable artifacts.