Sophia Flores of OAN
10:49am – Thursday, February 22, 2024
47 years after classic rock band Eagles released their mega-hit album “Hotel California,” three men are accused of conspiring to sell stolen lyric pages written by Eagles drummer and lyricist Don Henley. Opening statements in the trial charging the defendants began Wednesday. .
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The case, which came to light in 2022, centers on around 100 pages that were allegedly stolen, including a development of some of the band’s most iconic lyrics from the band’s songbook.
The evolving lyrics, written on a notepad, include references to such notable songs as “Life in the Fast Lane,” “New Kid in Town,” and most famously, “Hotel California.” It contained related texts and ideas.
The defendants in this lawsuit are three established collectors. Rare book seller Glenn Horowitz, memorabilia seller Edward Kosinski, and former Rock and Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inchardi are among those charged.
Don Henley is currently trying to obtain the stolen manuscripts of his work.
They were originally stolen sometime in the late 1970s by writer Ed Saunders, who had been hired to write a biography of the band. They were reportedly first sold to Horowitz in 2005 for $50,000. He then sold them to two other defendants for $65,000.
Henry filed a police report as soon as he was informed that the manuscript had been stolen, but he was unable to retrieve it because Horowitz and Inchardi falsified ownership records.
Members of the Eagles allege that the three conspired together to prevent them from recovering stolen property for their own benefit.
“The defendant was not a businessman who acted in good faith; he was a criminal,” said Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Penfold.
The men in question were charged with conspiracy to dispose of stolen property, but all have pleaded not guilty. The defendant’s lawyer insists his client is not involved in any illegal activity and has no problem buying pages and trying to sell them for high prices.
“They have accused three innocent men of crimes they did not commit,” Stacey Richman, Mr. Inchardi’s attorney, said in her opening statement.
Henry is scheduled to be a key witness in the trial.
The defense chose to skip the jury, so the verdict will be decided by Judge Curtis Farber.
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