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Handwritten Hotel California Lyrics
Handwritten pages inscribed with the first known iterations of the legendary rock song Hotel California will take center stage at a criminal trial on Wednesday.
Selling Lyrics Without Rights
Glenn Horowitz, Craig Inciardi, and Edward Kosinski are facing charges of conspiring to sell pages from the yellow lined pad, along with other Eagles lyrics, without the proper rights.
The Allegation
Prosecutors claim that the notepad was stolen before the accused individuals obtained it.
Plea of Not Guilty
All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Former Eagles Member as Witness
The Manhattan district attorney’s office plans to call former Eagles member Don Henley as its star witness in the trial.
Stolen Manuscripts
The alleged theft of the manuscript pages came to light in 2012 when Henley claimed they had been stolen, prompting an investigation by Manhattan prosecutors.
More than 80 Pages of Draft Lyrics
The non-jury trial is set to include over 80 pages of draft lyrics from the 1976 Hotel California album. Among these pages are some famous lines from the eponymous hit: “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.”
Charges and the Need to Prove
The defendants, Mr. Horowitz, Mr. Inciardi, and Mr. Kosinki, are facing charges related to conspiracy to possess stolen property and other offenses. Prosecutors have the burden of proving that the documents were indeed stolen in order for the charges to hold. While the accused individuals are not charged with stealing the lyrics themselves, their involvement in possessing stolen items is the focus of the trial.
Dispute Over Access to Archives
The origins of the dispute trace back to the late 1970s when writer Ed Sanders was working on a biography of the Eagles. The band had reportedly granted Sanders access to their archives, which included the lyrics-filled notepads.
Alleged Sale of the Stolen Lyrics
It is claimed that Sanders sold the lyrics-filled notepads to Mr. Horowitz, a rare-books dealer, for $50,000 in 2005. Mr. Horowitz subsequently sold the lyrics to Mr. Inciardi and Mr. Kosinski, both involved in the memorabilia industry.
Contradicting Testimony
During the trial, Mr. Henley told a grand jury that he never provided the lyrics to Mr. Sanders, according to court filings obtained by the Associated Press. Defense lawyers, however, have raised doubts about Henley’s recollection, suggesting that he voluntarily provided the lyrics to Sanders.
Additional Lyrics and Impressive Stats
Other lyrics from songs like Life in the Fast Lane and New Kid in Town are among the manuscript pages included in the lawsuit. The Grammy-winning song Hotel California generated over 220 million streams solely within the United States last year and was played 136,000 times on the radio, according to entertainment data company Luminate. Notably, the album Hotel California has sold 26 million copies nationwide.
