Nick Cave has joined the chorus of stars from the music world in paying tribute to the late, great Leonard Cohen.
Earlier today, it was announced that the ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘Suzanne’ icon had passed away, aged 82. Then, Rage Against The Machine, Arcade Fire and John Cale were among the many musicians to share their tributes and memories of Cohen in the wake of his sad news.
Now, Nick Cave has made his feelings known.
“For many of us Leonard Cohen was the greatest songwriter of them all,” said Cave. “Utterly unique and impossible to imitate no matter how hard we tried. He will be deeply missed by so many.”
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
Watch Nick Cave covering ‘Suzanne’ by Leonard Cohen below
Throughout his career, the Bad Seeds frontman has been very vocal in his admiration of Cohen – appearing in the 2005 film ‘I’m Your Man’ to cover a number of his tracks and speak of his greatness.
Speaking on French TV for ‘Les Inrockuptibles’ in 1994, Cave said: “I discovered Leonard Cohen with ‘Songs of Love and Hate’. I listened to this record for hours in a friend’s house. I was very young and I believe this was the first record that really had an effect on me. In the past, I only listened to my brother’s records. I liked what he liked, followed him like a sheep. Leonard Cohen was the first one I discovered by myself. He is the symbol of my musical independence. I remember these other guys that came to my friend’s house that thought Songs of Love and Hate was too depressing. I’ve realized that this ‘depression’ theory was ridiculous.
“The sadness of Cohen was inspirer, it gave me a lot of energy. I always remember all this when someone says that my records are morbid or depressing.”
READ MORE: How Cohen’s final album and last months were the perfect goodbye