Eagles Manager Calls Band a Stumbling Block to Biography Publication

In a revealing court hearing, an old recording surfaced suggesting that the Eagles' manager, Irving Azoff, believed a 'pampered rock star' from within the band was hindering the publication of their authorized biography. The tape, played during the New York trial of three men accused of unlawfully selling the band's handwritten lyrics, captured Azoff indicating that the book's release was contingent on the approval of 'God Henley,' likely referring to the Eagles' co-founder Don Henley. This remark hinted at internal friction affecting the project's progress.

The Biography in Limbo

While not directly charged, the biography's author, Ed Sanders, inadvertently became involved in the trial for having sold about 100 manuscript pages to one of the defendants. Henley, along with the prosecutors, claimed the materials were illegally obtained, insisting that Sanders was expected to return them after completing his research on the band. The defendants, meanwhile, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A Peek into Eagles' Dynamics

The courtroom discussions about the unpublished biography offered insights into the Eagles' internal relationships and their image management efforts around the time of their split in 1980. Testimony revealed Azoff's dissatisfaction with the manuscript's coverage of the band's breakup and the portrayal of their journey. Despite Azoff's claim that the band never authorized its publication due to quality concerns, a contradictory statement was heard in the recorded call where he expressed being 'phenomenally, absolutely happy' with the book.

Eagles' Legal Battle Over Manuscripts

The dispute extends to the legitimacy of the sale and ownership of the lyrics drafts. The prosecution argued that the defendants crafted false narratives about the acquisition of the lyrics to mislead auction houses and Henley himself. Horowitz, a rare-book dealer, purchased the drafts from Sanders and later sold them to the other defendants, leading to a series of sales and auctions that drew Henley's legal attention.

Defense attorneys maintain that Sanders was the rightful owner when he made the sale, a stance that challenges Henley's assertions. The ongoing trial brings to light complex issues of ownership, the value of rock memorabilia, and artists' control over their creative output.

Eagles, biography, trial