Leonard Cohen dead at 82: Tributes pour in for late singer-songwriter

Musicians, politicians and celebrities alike come together to pay tribute to Cohen

Tributes have been pouring in following news of the death of legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen at the age of 82.

The news of the late musician and poet’s death was confirmed via his official Facebook page. The post read, “It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen has passed away. We have lost one of music’s most revered and prolific visionaries.”

Cohen’s son Adam has told Rolling Stone that his father died peacefully at home “with the knowledge that he had completed what he felt was one of his greatest records. He was writing up until his last moments with his unique brand of humour.”

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His manager Robert Kory also told the publication: “Unmatched in his creativity, insight and crippling candour, Leonard Cohen was a true visionary whose voice will be sorely missed. I was blessed to call him a friend, and for me to serve that bold artistic spirit firsthand, was a privilege and great gift. He leaves behind a legacy of work that will bring insight, inspiration and healing for generations to come.”

Following the news, many fellow musicians, politicians and celebrities alike have been paying tribute to Cohen via social media. Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, wrote: “No other artist’s music felt or sounded like Leonard Cohen’s. Yet his work resonated across generations. Canada and the world will miss him.”

Fellow Canadian Win Butler, of Arcade Fire, added: “Seeing Leonard Cohen walking on St Laurent street [in Montreal] when I was 21 was enough to make me feel like I had a home”.

Other artists to pay tribute to Cohen include Slash, Nick Cave, Lily Allen, Justin Timberlake and Peter Hook. See more below.

For many of us Leonard Cohen was the greatest songwriter of them all. Utterly unique and impossible to imitate no matter how hard we tried. He will be deeply missed by so many. – Nick Cave

Posted by Nick Cave on Friday, November 11, 2016

 

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Less than a month ago, Leonard Cohen revealed in an interview with The New Yorker that he was ready to die.

Discussing his archive of unfinished songs during an in-depth interview, Cohen said: “I don’t think I’ll be able to finish those songs. Maybe, who knows? And maybe I’ll get a second wind, I don’t know. But I don’t dare attach myself to a spiritual strategy. I don’t dare do that.”

“I’ve got some work to do,” 82-year-old Cohen continued. “Take care of business. I am ready to die. I hope it’s not too uncomfortable. That’s about it for me.”

He later clarified the comments saying “I’ve always been into self-dramatisation. I intend to live forever.”

At the end of the playback, Cohen added: “Thanks for coming, friends. I really appreciate your standing up when I came into the room. I hope we can do this again. I intend to stick around until 120.”

Cohen released his 14th album, ‘You Want It Darker’, on October 21. It was the iconic artist’s third LP in six years, having not released a record for eight years prior to that.

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