A criminal trial surrounding 13 pages of drafts of lyrics to the Eagles' iconic song “Hotel California” has brought to light a complex web of events involving prominent auction houses and collectibles professionals.
The trial involves three individuals accused of possessing stolen property and attempting to cover it up to deceive auction houses and thwart demands for the documents' return by Eagles co-founder Don Henley.
The handwritten pages, part of the development of the hit song from the 1976 album, were initially brought to a prominent auction house in 2015. However, concerns were raised about the source of the documents, which were said to have come from a writer who had worked with the band on a never-published biography.
Despite initial excitement over the opportunity to sell pieces of rock history, the auction house ultimately decided not to broker a sale due to insufficient provenance information. The pages later appeared at a public auction, leading to objections from Henley and sparking the investigation that led to the ongoing trial.
The accused individuals had purchased the documents from various sources, including a rare-book dealer and the writer himself. The writer, who had collaborated with the Eagles on an authorized band biography, had provided conflicting explanations about how he obtained the lyrics sheets.
Throughout the proceedings, there were discussions of alternate stories regarding the origin of the documents, with emails revealing shifting narratives and attempts to downplay Henley's claims of ownership.
The trial continues to shed light on the intricate circumstances surrounding the “Hotel California” lyrics drafts and the legal battles over their ownership.
