Don Henley concludes his testimony in a trial over allegedly stolen handwritten lyrics for Eagles songs, battling with opposing lawyers and addressing various topics including the band's original 1979 paperwork, the location of the contract, and past legal actions. The trial also delved into the Eagles' after-show parties, an infamous 1980 incident involving a sex worker at Henley's home, and the band's drug use. Henley's testimony included moments of levity and jabs, as he wrapped up his three days on the stand.
Don Henley, co-founder of the Eagles, testified in a Manhattan courtroom about stolen handwritten notes and drafts for hits like "Hotel California." The notes, which had deeply personal meaning to him, were allegedly stolen decades ago and later sold to a rare-book dealer and two other men. The prosecution claims the documents were stolen by an author who had signed a contract to write a book about the Eagles in the late 1970s. Henley expressed alarm upon learning that some of his "Hotel California" notes had been put up for auction online in 2012.
The criminal trial of three collectibles experts charged with conspiring to sell sheets of handwritten, draft lyrics to the Eagles' "Hotel California" and other songs has revealed a recording of the band's manager, Irving Azoff, referring to band co-founder Don Henley as "God Henley." The recording emerged in court, shedding light on the Eagles' interpersonal dynamics and the never-published biography that was a point of contention. The trial also delved into the band's music-business dealings and the backstory behind the iconic song's creation, with Henley expected to testify. Defense lawyers argue that the lyric sheets were rightfully obtained, while prosecutors and Azoff contend they were stolen.
