Don Henley comments on the Eagles and Frank Ocean - lawsuit threatened

[Koala]

Don Henley is major pissed at Frank Ocean

http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/1794...t-frank-ocean/

another one

Don Henley Threatens Frank Ocean with Legal Action over "Hotel California" Sample

http://exclaim.ca/News/don_henley_th...ifornia_sample

[sodascouts]

Larry Solters, the guys' publicist, made a statement about the issue in one of the links Koala posted which was misleadingly titled "Don Henley Threatens Frank Ocean with Legal Action over 'Hotel California' Sample." In case anyone didn't get a chance to read it all, I'm reposting the response here. It appears that Don has not actually threatened to sue after all... at least, not yet.

The statement says:

Frank Ocean did not merely "sample" a portion of the Eagles' "Hotel California"; he took the whole master track, plus the song's existing melody, and replaced the lyrics with his own. This is not creative, let alone "intimidating." It's illegal. For the record, Don Henley has not threatened or instituted any legal action against Frank Ocean, although the Eagles are now considering whether they should. Any further questions regarding this matter should be directed to Warner Music Group as it is the entity that currently owns the master recording and made the contact with Frank Ocean's representatives concerning his infringement of the master recording.

[WalshFan88]

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/eagle...el-california/

[Topkat]

Wow. So another saga of Hotel California begins. Well, I enjoyed that R&R HOF video!

[Wildthyme]

If I were the Eagles I would sue Frank Ocean for defamation because that "song" he "wrote" using the HC track is total dreck...

[Ive always been a dreamer]

Yeah - this will be interesting to watch. Not cool that he used the master track for the song. I mean how hard would it have been for him to record his own music - it seems almost as if he were inviting trouble to me.

[VAisForEagleLovers]

It seems like this guy figures those who've already been successful owe the new guys something. His statement that Don Henley is already rich, so why would he sue the new guy gives the mentality we're dealing with. I don't think it occurred to him that what he was doing was wrong. I'm still not sure he gets it. Perhaps suing him is the only way to educate him?

[eaglesfan12]

http://mobile.news.com.au/entertainm...-1226941446957

Well done don. Why should other artist get to steal people work. Least gave them warning 1st
That ocean guy needs to do own work.

[DJ]

So I understand that these songs are fabulous works of music but what I don't understand is if these people want to become musicians, why don't they write and create their own music and lyrics. Why do they think it's ok to steal someone else's hard work and sweat equity.
To me that just proves that they are not a musical talent at all.

[sodascouts]

Actually, legal action was only threatened, and the Eagles are not actually suing this guy - unless something has changed, and I didn't see anything about that in the article.

This happened over two years ago. I wonder why this Australian reporter not only asked him about it now, but made it the centerpiece of the article?

ETA: I merged this with the other posts talking about it.