leonardcohenforum.com

Hey.

I'm a Journalism/Creative Writing student at the University of Technology, Sydney and I'm writing a short biography on Leonard Cohen. I was wondering if anyone had ever actually met Leonard or had any funny/interesting memories/anecdotes from seeing him perform, etc.

If you have any stories at all which you think might be interesting, please leave a comment or, better yet, e-mail me at: ble_issac@yahoo.com.au

Thanks a lot, Cassie.

Yes. It was a devastating experience.


Mr. Ed

I have a short lenny tale:

I was a teacher for some street youth for a few years - they put out a magazine called The Slice. We managed to get a copy to Leonards dressing room at The Orpheum - where he was going to perform that night.

The kids and I were very touched when he began his show by reading poems from the slice written by the kids. We were even more touched when we received his subscription to the magazine.

Not many "artists" of stature would do something like that. He is definately a generous and "real" spirit. I still would love to say - Thank you brother - one day.

T

That is, indeed, very impressive, TC, and shows the humble and real side of Leonard. It must have been very validating for the kids whose poems were read; for the rest, whose poems weren't, as he subscribed, an affirmation that he likely had read the rest from that issue, and would in the issues that followed; and for you, with the work you were doing with them. What a way for them to receive an unexpected shot of hope!

Do you happen to know whether that concert got recorded that night, bootleg or otherwise? A collector's item in its own right.

~ Lizzytysh

I don't know if it was recorded anywhere except in the minds and hearts of myself and the 15 members of The Slice.

cheers,

T

What year was that TC.

That was the summer of 1993

TC: Thanks for that! That's such a great story. I'm definitely going to use it.

Hi Christina the Astonishing,

(I am a huge fan of Nick Cave) - Could I read your finished paper? I think it would be very interesting. I also have a friend and fellow poet who encountered LC on a bus in Calgary...he showed him an angst-ridden poem he had written , and LC very patiently read it, then handed it back and said "it's very morbid", then rang the bell and got off the bus.

T

I meet Lenny most week nights in the Court House in Bridgend (providing neither Liverpool or Arsenal are playing)

Tonight I took a dreadful ribbing from him after Saturday's result, but that's okay - I suppose he can't help being a Gooner

JTS

Leonard Cohen was walking down New York's Saint Mark's Place on his 34th birthday in 1968 when he encountered a hippy with a thick glove on his hand, atop of which was sitting a large turtle.
"What do you feed that?" Cohen asked.
"Hamburger meat, speed and smack," answered the hippy.
"How disgusting," said his companion of the evening, "to take a creature out of its natural habitat, fill it full of chemicals and parade it about the city to attract attention."
"Well at least it had its head out," observed Cohen.

My english teacher just happened to back into Mr. Cohen's hand in a bar one time. You wonder what Leonard would say and like out of a movie he went "awwwchhhe". I'm serious here!!! Honest!!!

I just found out today that Leonard attended a lecture at my synogogue (which his family played a huge role in) last week. I only I had decided to attend!

Oh dear, this is not the kind of news we like to hear, is it, Murray ? I'm afraid I'll only cause you to feel worse if I ask why you decided not to go. What was the lecture on? Is this to say you won't be missing any more of them ?

Welcome to the Forum, anyway . Not that we'll be able to make up for that 'miss,' however .

~ Lizzytysh

Yes...it was on 7th July 1976 (my 25th birthday). I went to see Leonard at the New Victoria Theatre (now the Apollo, where Bombay Dreams was playing). I saw Leonard there on the 6th, 8th of July also. On 7th I was with an old friend, Johnny Rogan, the rock writer (we were working in a record store in Wilton Road, at the time). After the show, I decided I wanted to meet Leonard. We waited by the stage door with everyone else for a while, and then decided to walk round the block several times. On our final lap, as we walked round the back (in Vauxhall Bridge Road) a limousine pulled up, the theatre door opened and out walked Leonard in a suit, looking just like he did on the cover of "Death of a Ladies Man" (I believe there was a man and woman with him). I went up to Leonard and said "Mr.Cohen, I want to thank you for everything". I shook has hand, and he looked at me as if he was looking into my very soul. I asked him if he would put his name on my programme, and he did just that.

John Etherington