Leonard Cohen will be saying So Long to Montreal's Marianne street as he embarks on a world tour this summer, his first in 15 years. The tour takes him through the UK, Ireland and Europe, including stops at the Glastonbury, Montreux and Benicassim Festivals. He will also appear at London's O2 Arena, Edinburgh Castle, the Manchester Opera House and at three hometown Montreal dates. Ticket prices for the Montreal dates, which went on pre-sale yesterday, begin at about £75. Given the rarity of Cohen's live appearances, fans are unlikely to struggle with this. I certainly didn't: seat J26, you are mine.
Cohen has spent the past 15 years recording privately (he's maintained his partnership with the singer Anjani). He buys freshly squeezed orange juice from a place just down the street from us, and makes sporadic public appearances, such as his 2007 collaboration with Philip Glass.
He's also struggled with legal issues, suing his long-time manager Kelley Lynch for misappropriation of funds. Although Cohen won the case, it's understood that Lynch's sins left a major dent in Cohen's finances.
On a happier note, Leonard Cohen was inducted earlier this week into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Lou Reed introduced the songwriter at the ceremony, and Damien Rice performed a rendition of Hallelujah in tribute to the man. (Please let this be as close as Damien Rice ever comes to being inducted into the Hall of Fame.)
The critic Jon Landau once said: "I have seen the future of rock'n'roll, and he is not Leonard Cohen." Perhaps Cohen is not the future, but he is one of our favourite parts of its past.
Find Leonard Cohen's tour dates as they're announced at this website.