Leonard Cohen is Broke and I am Bummed About it

You didn't hear it here first. Some of you know that Leonard Cohen is a personal hero of mine. He is probably the reason I wrote my first poem (which shall never see the light of day). He is also one of the reasons behind my interest in the guitar. I have a collection of Lenny paraphernalia (books in foreign languages, bootlegs, counterfeit CDs, promotional materials, and even an autograph).

My first Cohen album was an almost completely destroyed copy of Songs of Leonard Cohen. It was in such bad shape that, at certain points, the damage to the vinyl overwhelmed the music. The cover, littered with scribbling, was taped together. It had been in the collection of a radio station at one point.

My father gave me the most perplexing look when he came into my room and heard the singing of a man in pain or longing. Perhaps it was the line "and your thighs are a ruin." Or, maybe it was "Some girls wander by mistake into the mess that scalpels make." I am not sure, but he disapproved. That much is certain. Of course, he once said to me, "Who doesn't like Celine Dion?"

And now, Leonard is in the midst of a crazy lawsuit and countersuit. A recent Macleans article gives a good summary of the hell that he is going through. The short story is that his business manager allegedly embezzled millions from him, leaving him with a paltry amount and forcing him to mortgage is house in LA to pay his legal fees. Trouble is, even if he wins the suit, he has probably lost the money.

Which is why he is recording a new album and organizing a tour. He was planning to retire, but he has been forced to keep working. I am happy that he has deferred his retirement, but the circumstances stink. I hope to catch the tour. I have been lucky enough to see him twice: once it TO with K, and once in the audience of the Ralph Benmergui Show. I saw the sound check too.

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