Cohen Biographer Sylvie Simmons at the Chelsea

[lightning]

Noted rock journalist Sylvie Simmons visited New York during the first week of December 2009 to do research for her upcoming biography of Leonard Cohen, "I'm Your Man." Sylvie visited with a few forum members and was taken to the lobby of the Chelsea Hotel and its adjacent restaurant El Quijote for atmosphere. Alreadly the biographer of Serge Gainsbourg and Neil Young, she said the only other two people for whom she would undertake the arduous task of writing a biography would be Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. She mentioned to me "I think women get ignored in biographies as they do in history" and is encouraging all, particularly women, who have biographical information about Leonard heretofore uncovered by other biographers to come forward with it. Her book is going to be very special.
You can e-mail your stories to her research assistant Helen at:

hdolon@well.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26075257@N07/4162078026/

[lizzytysh]

One of the many things I love about you, Lightning is that you are SO New YORK !! I hope and I'm actually sure that this project will go well. I wish Sylvie the very best in it!


~ Lizzy

[Elizabeelzebubeth]

Hoo baby, if all the women who have "information" about Leonard come forward, it will be a very special book indeed!!!

[friscogrl]

For a moment I misread biographical information as biological information

M

[dick]

For a moment I misread biographical information as biological information

M

You still focused on Leonard and Playboy/Playgirl discussion?

Thanks for photo and report Thelma. Linda and I much enjoyed dinner with Sylvie on Friday night, and agree the project sounds very appealing.

[DrHGuy]

Sylvie Simmons answered a few questions for me. I posted the Q&A (and a video of her playing the uke) at http://1heckofaguy.com/2009/12/02/sylvi ... ood-stuff/

[khayya]

Leonard has said somewhere that he never discusses his mistresses or his taylors. I really hope that the "mistresses" show the same respect and will not be tempted into this easiest and morally cheapest way of money-making.

[seadove]

Leonard has said somewhere that he never discusses his mistresses or his tailors. I really hope that the "mistresses" show the same respect and will not be tempted into this easiest and morally cheapest way of money-making.

I wonder what we can possibly hear from his tailors?

[lightning]

Nobody is being paid for these interviews. Rather, they come from the heart and are being given freely. Communication that can be bought and sold can be perverted by the desire for money. As long as they truthful and interesting, they will be valuable to a biographer and all who read the biography.
If you think "giving me head on an unmade bed," one of Cohen's most famous and applauded lines, means not talking about his mistresses, maybe you should listen again. Also read some of his poems, books, and song lyrics. All of which made quite a bit of money.

[LEONKA]

Already I'm looking forward to the book, my patience is great, I'll wait. When The book comes out, can it also be expected in Europe?