Leonard Cohen postpones European tour by six months
Monday, 08 February 2010 18:09
The 75-year-old will undergo six months of physical therapy to recover from a back injury
Leonard Cohen will postpone his upcoming European tour by six months due to a back injury. The singer will undergo four to six months of physical therapy, a regime "typical ... for athletes with similar injuries," according to a statement.
Cohen may not be an athlete, but the 75-year-old has performed a marathon of almost 200 concerts since resuming touring in 2008. His manager, Robert Kory, said Cohen sustained the compression injury to his lower back while exercising.
"Doctors have confirmed that Cohen is otherwise in terrific shape, thanks to years of exercise and careful diet, and simply needs appropriate time to recover," Kory said. Nine concerts, in France and eastern Europe, have been postponed from March to mid-September.
Although Cohen has appeared sprightly and cheerful at recent gigs, the Suzanne songwriter collapsed during a Spanish performance in September. Cohen was rushed to hospital and reportedly treated for food poisoning.
Just over a week ago, Cohen received a lifetime achievement prize at the Grammy awards in Los Angeles. According to back-up singer Sharon Robinson, he is currently working on new material, including a song called Different Sides. Cohen's last studio album was Dear Heather, released in 2004.
© Guardian News & Media Limited 2010