Handwritten Hotel California lyrics at centre of trial

Background of the Trial

Handwritten pages with the first known iterations of the rock song Hotel California are at the center of a criminal trial set to begin on Wednesday.

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 rights.

Prosecutors allege that the notepad was stolen before the accused individuals purchased it.

The Trial Proceedings

The non-jury trial will feature over 80 pages of draft lyrics from the 1976 Hotel California album, including famous lines such as "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave."

The Manhattan district attorney's office is expected to call former Eagles member Don Henley as a key witness in the trial.

While the defendants have pleaded not guilty, prosecutors will need to prove that the documents were stolen for the charges to hold.

Dispute and Allegations

The dispute over the lyrics dates back to the late 1970s when writer Ed Sanders was working on a biography for the Eagles.

The band had reportedly granted Sanders access to their archives, which included the lyrics-filled notepads.

Sanders later sold the lyrics to Glenn Horowitz, who then sold them to Craig Inciardi and Edward Kosinski. However, former Eagles member Don Henley has claimed that he never gave the lyrics to Sanders.

Defense lawyers have suggested that Henley voluntarily provided the lyrics to Sanders, casting doubt on his memory.

Popularity and Impact of Hotel California

Hotel California, the Grammy-winning song, had over 220 million streams in the US alone last year and received 136,000 radio plays.

The album of the same name has sold 26 million copies nationwide, further solidifying its popularity and impact.

The trial will shed light on the authenticity and ownership of these iconic lyrics that have captivated audiences for decades.