Don Henley filed a lawsuit Friday seeking the return of his handwritten lyrics to his critically acclaimed hit “Hotel California.” The Associated Press.
Henry claims the 100 pages were stolen from him and vowed to take legal action when a New York judge in March dismissed criminal charges against three men who had tried to sell the development lyrics.
“These 100-page personal lyric cards belong to Mr. Henry and his family, and Mr. Henry has never authorized the defendants or anyone else to sell the lyric cards for commercial purposes,” said Daniel Petrocelli, Mr. Henry’s attorney.
Glenn Horowitz, Craig Inciardi and Edward Kosinski were initially charged with fourth-degree conspiracy for allegedly attempting to sell a manuscript containing “lyric developments for the Eagles song ‘Hotel California,'” according to the initial indictment filed by the New York District Attorney’s Office in 2022.
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Don Henley sued to get the original lyrics of “Hotel California” back. (Photo: Laura Roberts/InVision/AP, File)
In March, prosecutors dropped their criminal case midway through trial, citing newly obtained emails that cast doubt on the fairness of the trial. The emails appeared to come to light after Henry apparently decided to waive attorney-client privilege last week, after he and other prosecution witnesses had already testified.
Henry’s newly hired attorney, Dan Petrocelli, issued a statement to Fox News Digital through Henry’s representative: “Attorney-client privilege is a fundamental guardrail in our justice system, and it is rarely necessary for a litigation or defense to waive it. Mr. Henry, the victim in this case, has once again been harmed by this unjust outcome. He will pursue all of his rights in civil court.”
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The manuscripts have a combined value of more than $1 million, according to the district attorney.
Henley testified in court in March against three men accused of stealing the lyrics. (David Delgado)
Henley fought for decades to get his lyrics page back. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Decades ago, Ed Sanders allegedly stole a notepad. Eagles While working on the official book on the band in the ’70s, Sanders penned the handwritten biography. It was never published, but Sanders kept the manuscript and later reportedly sold it to antiquarian book dealer Horowitz for $50,000.
Horowitz then Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inciardi and Kosinski tried to sell some of the lyrics through Kosinski’s company, Gotta Have Rock and Roll, but were caught by Henley in 2012.
According to the indictment, Henley then purchased “Don Henley’s handwritten original lyrics to the Eagles song ‘Hotel California'” on April 25, 2012, for $8,500.
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Two years later, Koskinski contacted Sotheby’s, trying to sell “Don Henley’s handwritten lyrics to The Eagles.” [sic] Shortly thereafter, Inciardi sent a similar email to the auction house informing them that the in-progress lyrics to “Life in the Fast Lane” were also up for sale.
Members of the Eagles included (from left) Don Felder, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey and Randy Meisner. (RB/Red Ferns)
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“Upon learning that Inciardi and Kosinski were attempting to sell portions of the manuscript, Don Henley filed a police report, told the defendants that the materials were stolen and demanded the return of his property,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. said in a statement released in 2022 alongside the charges.
“Defendants waged a years-long campaign to prevent Mr. Henry from recovering the manuscript without making any effort to ensure that they in fact had legitimate ownership.”
Throughout 2015, Kosinski and Inciardi continued to attempt to sell 13 pages of development lyrics for “Hotel California.” In December 2016, the District Attorney’s Office executed search warrants and recovered Henley’s stolen manuscript from Sotheby’s and Kosinski’s New Jersey home, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The Eagles were the most popular band of the 70s and had a very successful reunion tour in the 90s. LR: Bernie Leadon, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner. (Henry Diltz/Corbis)
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“Soon after, Horowitz attempted to exploit the death of our founder. Glenn Frey, member of the Eagles “To avoid criminal prosecution, Horowitz submitted new false statements of origin, this time claiming that the materials came from the late Frey,” prosecutors said in a statement. “In one email message, Horowitz stated:[Frey] Unfortunately, he is deceased and identifying him as the source would eliminate this issue entirely.”
