New York, New York – The trial of three men accused of conspiring to possess the original handwritten lyrics for the Eagles’ iconic song “Hotel California” has captivated the music industry. The band’s longtime manager, Irving Azoff, took the stand to recount the band’s efforts to recover roughly 100 pages of allegedly stolen song lyrics from co-founders Don Henley and Glenn Frey. The lyrics had been taken from Henley’s Malibu storage barn by a rock journalist, Ed Sanders, who had been hired by the band to write a biography more than 40 years ago.
The men on trial are rare-books collector Glenn Horowitz, memorabilia seller Edward Kosinski, and former Rock and Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi. They are facing charges of knowingly possessing and attempting to sell the lyrics without the band’s consent, as well as attempting to obscure how they obtained the papers.
The legal battle took a drastic turn when Sanders allegedly took the yellow legal pads, containing now-legendary lyrics, and attempted to sell them. The three defendants claim they had no knowledge that the memorabilia could have been acquired through theft. Their defense attorneys argued that the case should be dismissed due to a lack of evidence.
The defendants face up to four years in prison if convicted, but they have all pleaded not guilty to the charges. Don Henley is expected to testify in the trial and has already taken action by purchasing some of the stolen pages himself in 2012 and filing a report with the district attorney.
The case, which was brought in New York in 2022, continues to draw attention as it raises questions about the ownership and integrity of cultural artifacts and memorabilia. The prosecution and defense are expected to present their cases, delving into the intricate details of the band’s history and the disputed lyrics. The trial is set to continue, shedding light on the complexities of music memorabilia and the legal challenges surrounding it.