3 Defendants to Stand Trial Over ‘Hotel California’ Manuscript

Members of the Eagles are “Desperado” in ending a case involving a manuscript for the hit “Hotel California.”

The song, which was penned in the mid-1970s by bandmates Don Henley and Glenn Frey, became a hit. Now, 50 years later a criminal trial regarding ownership of a handwritten manuscript for the song, according to the Associated Press.

The trial should start Wednesday.

“Rare-book dealer Glenn Horowitz, former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi and memorabilia seller Edward Kosinski are charged with conspiring to own and try to sell manuscripts of “Hotel California” and other Eagles hits without the right to do so,” according to the AP.

The defendants, who have pleaded not guilty, say the got the manuscript from a writer who’d worked with the Eagles. 

“But the Manhattan district attorney’s office says the defendants connived to obscure the documents’ disputed ownership, despite knowing that Henley said the pages were stolen,” the AP reported.

Henley, who is expected to be the star witness, said the song is about “the dark underbelly of the American dream.”

The manuscript also includes lyrics from the songs “Life in the Fast Lane” and “New Kid in Town.” 

“Eagles manager Irving Azoff has called the documents ‘irreplaceable pieces of musical history,’” the AP reported.

The three are not charged with stealing the documents, but conspiracy to possess them. It is not clear if or when the manuscript was stolen.

The trial is expected to last at least 10 days.

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