A biography of the Eagles, exploring their 1980 breakup, displeased Glenn Frey and Don Henley, never getting published. Now, in a criminal trial, rare-books dealer Glenn Horowitz, former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi, and memorabilia seller Edward Kosinski face charges related to pages of Eagles lyrics, including those from “Hotel California.” The defendants acquired the documents from poet Ed Sanders, who researched the band’s biography.
Manhattan prosecutors claim the defendants sold the lyrics knowing their ownership was questionable and thwarted Henley’s attempts to reclaim them. The Eagles’ manager, Irving Azoff, testified that the lyrics were personal to Henley, constituting stolen pieces of his legacy. Defense argues Henley willingly gave away the documents and now seeks to reclaim them through legal means.
The lyrics include drafts from “Hotel California,” crafted by Frey and Henley in a rented Beverly Hills house. The pages also feature lyrics from “Life in the Fast Lane” and “New Kid in Town.” The case arose a decade after some lyrics appeared at auctions, prompting Henley’s response. The lyrics ended up with Kosinski and Inciardi, purchased from Horowitz, who acquired them from Sanders.
Sanders, hired to write the Eagles’ biography, had extensive access but displeased the band with his manuscript. He later requested a substantial payment, causing concern among band members about potential negative publicity. Sanders’ contract stipulated that the Eagles owned any materials they provided him.
Prosecutors allege Horowitz and Inciardi provided inconsistent explanations for how Sanders obtained the lyrics. Kosinski forwarded these explanations to Henley’s lawyer but allegedly concealed the ownership dispute from potential buyers. Henley is expected to testify, with defense lawyers questioning his memory of dealings with Sanders and the lyrics.
In summary, the trial centers on the disputed ownership of Eagles lyrics and whether the defendants knowingly sold stolen property.
