The legal case surrounding the Eagles’ handwritten draft lyrics to songs like “Hotel California” has taken a new turn with the emergence of a recording featuring Irving Azoff, the band’s manager.
In the recording played in court, Azoff can be heard discussing the publication of an authorized biography of the Eagles and indicating that the book’s release was being delayed due to issues involving a band member, possibly Don Henley.
Azoff’s statement, “It’s gonna come out when God Henley says it can,” suggests that Henley had a significant influence over the band’s decisions, including matters related to the biography’s publication.
The recording sheds light on the dynamics within the Eagles and suggests that internal conflicts may have affected external projects involving the band.
The biographer, Ed Sanders, who is not implicated in the criminal trial, played a role in the case because he sold the draft lyrics to one of the defendants.
The defendants are accused of conspiring to withhold and sell the handwritten lyrics without permission, with prosecutors and Henley contending that the documents were stolen.
The trial highlights the complexities of intellectual property rights and the challenges surrounding the ownership and dissemination of valuable memorabilia associated with iconic music acts.
As the case unfolds, it may provide further insights into the inner workings of the Eagles and the circumstances surrounding the creation and preservation of their music.
