The long-standing case concerning the lyrics to The Eagles’ song ‘Hotel California’ has finally reached trial in New York, where opening statements have just commenced. Glenn Horowitz, along with Edward Kosinski and Craig Inciardi, a Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame curator, is accused of conspiring to sell Don Henley’s handwritten notes and lyrics to the song, reportedly worth over £792,000. Also seized in the theft of the documents was another set of lyrics from the follow-up song ‘Life In The Fast Lane’.
Although reportedly stolen during the 1970s, the incriminating papers reached Horowitz, a rare book dealer, in 2005, at which point Inciardi and Kosinski respectively from memorabilia seller and another dealer joined as accomplices. Together they began to funnel the documents in and out of auction houses, as well as harassing Henley in order to try and manipulate him into buying them back.
Each of the accused has entered a not guilty plea against the charges; the lawyers representing Horowitz, Kosinski and Inciardi have so far argued that the accusations “unfairly tarnishes the reputations of well-respected professionals”. However, the Manhattan district attorney’s office is prepared to present Henley, the co-founder of The Eagles, as its primary witness in search of a conviction for the defendants.
The events that led to the famously guarded papers’ disappearance remain shrouded in mystery. While it is said that Henley was unaware of Sanders having the notepad with the lyrics and, therefore, did not provide them voluntarily, defence lawyers suggest that Henley himself handed Sanders the pages. As the trial moves forward, Judge Curtis Farber is presiding over the case as jury-less proceedings take place
Read the full article on NME here: Read More