Leonard collapsed in Valencia - but everything's OK now!

[The Fedora]

"Leonard is fine. Bad case of food poisoning but he's fine. Tour continuing on as planned."
about 3 hours ago from web

From Sharon Robinson's twitter,really reassuring.

Thanks, Lord.

[ladydi]

I too have requested the removal of the video. The morbid among us will focus on those few seconds. What is most important is focusing on his lifetime of work, and the incredible Unified Heart Tour for the past year and a half. One person on YouTube requested it to remain as it shows Leonard's strength in wanting to continue. It does...in fact, under the circumstances I'm amazed he was able to get as far as he did with "Bird on the Wire"....but I for one don't want to see this video ever again. He became faint, unfortunately in public view, but he is recovered and his energy is legendary and he will be back to normal soon.

Diana

[ascoli]

I agree that the video should be removed.
I will not look at it.
Too heartbreaking a moment.
Too 'private' a moment .
Be well leonard.
We sure love you.

[Womanfromaroom]

Dear Leonard,

although, yes, like many of us having come here from other countries or even continents, I have flown in from Germany exclusively for your concert and the birthday event - but if you do not feel up to perform and rather need to rest, we will no doubt all accept it! Good to hear that you seem to be feeling better already, and, yes, it would be great to have you on stage and celebrate your birthday with you. But if you feel it cannot be done, I am sure everyone is fine with that - after all, our birthday wishes include not least of all health and well-being!
Get well soon!

[tomsakic]

ascoli, "heartbreaking" is too little to say. I saw it, and it's very hard, at least to me. His concerts are such private occasions, and this "incident" (as the press calls it) is more private than usual. It does show Leonard willing to give the show to the people who came to see&hear him, and it breaks your heart. The very thought on that moment when he faints down is making me cry.


I myself, as Jarkko, am ready to vote for the canceling of forthcoming shows anytime, as I was from the beginning of the tour. I wish him happy back in LA/Montreal, with his grandson, writing poetry and being at ease.

[Bequia]

Reassured but still concerned, wishing Leonard the best.

[GinaDCG]

Leonard (if you ever read this) and others:

True story: My physician father collapsed while mowing his yard one day. He woke up in his own ER surrounded by colleagues shining lights in his face and asking "Dr. Cooper?! Dr. Cooper!? Are you OK? Can you hear me?"
"Yes, yes," my father answered "What's wrong?"
"You're in the ER."
"OK. But what's wrong?"
"You collapsed."
"I figured that out already. What's wrong?"
"You have a stomach flu."
"I know that, but what's wrong?"
"You have the stomach flu and you collapsed while mowing the lawn."
"I KNOW THAT BUT WHAT'S WRONG?"
"You have the stomach flu and you collapsed."
"But I wasn't that sick What's REALLY wrong with me?"
"Gene, you know the stomach flu is very hard on the elderly."
"Yeah, but I'M NOT ELDERLY!"

(My father was 75 at the time.)

And my father would now say (were he still with us) -- gatorade, and later, apple sauce, bananas and broth. And plenty of rest. The stomach flu is especially hard on those of us north of 60.

[tomsakic]

Well, Leonard made it into the news of Croatian national TV stations (incl. state's), and all major newspapers and media... in just couple of hours.

[martine bzh]

Bonjour,

The french forum is actually out of order. Do you mind if I post the article I just read in a french newspaper?
Merci.

http://www.ouest-france.fr/

"Le chanteur-compositeur-interprète canadien Leonard Cohen s'est évanoui sur scène lors d'un concert, vendredi au vélodrome de Valence, dans l'est de l'Espagne, qu'il a dû interrompre, a indiqué le site du quotidien El Mundo.
Selon le guitariste de son groupe, Javier Mas, cité par le site, Cohen, âgé de 75 ans, a souffert d'indigestion et a été pris de vomissements mais son état de santé n'est pas préoccupant.
L'incident s'est produit une demie-heure après l'entrée en scène du chanteur alors qu'il interprétait la quatrième chanson de la soirée, "Bird on the wire".
Selon plusieurs témoins, Cohen a perdu l'équilibre une première fois en se levant pour aller prendre une guitare et a été rattrapé par des membres de son groupe qui lui ont évité une chute.
Quelques instants plus tard il a de nouveau vacillé avant de tomber à terre et a été conduit derrière la scène où il a reçu des soins de la part d'une équipe médicale.
Les quelque 6.000 spectateurs ont patienté près d'une heure avant que Mas vienne leur annoncer que Cohen ne reviendrait pas sur scène et que le concert était reporté, annonce reçue par des applaudissements.
Valence était l'avant-dernière étape d'une tournée en Espagne qui devrait s'achever lundi à Barcelone.
Cohen s'est fait connaître du grand public dans les années 60 avec son premier album "Songs Of Leonard Cohen", qui incluait une de ses chansons les plus connues, "Suzanne".
Il a quitté la scène au début des années 90, pour aller vivre dans un monastère bouddhiste en Californie, où il devint moine et pris le nom de Jikan, qui signifie "silence".

[sturgess66]

From Yahoo News - Associated Press
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090919/ap_ ... nard_cohen

Leonard Cohen Recovers from Collapse
AP

LC recovers.jpg (16.47 KiB) Viewed 3878 times

File - Musician Leonard Cohen poses backstage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame AP – File - Musician Leonard Cohen poses backstage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony after …
By HAROLD HECKLE, Associated Press Writer Harold Heckle, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 31 mins ago

MADRID – Leonard Cohen is recovering after collapsing onstage while on tour in eastern Spain, his music company said Saturday.

The veteran poet and performer has been released from hospital after suffering from a stomach complaint, Doctor Music Concerts said in a statement.

Cohen was part-way through his song "Bird on the Wire" in Valencia when he fainted, causing the band to stop playing to rush to his aid as concertgoers watched. The concert was stopped.

A video showing Cohen kneeling down several times during the performance and then keeling over sideways during a saxophone solo has been placed on YouTube on the Web by a fan.

The Canadian-born musician, who will be 75 years-old on Monday, was taken in an ambulance to the Nueve de Octubre hospital in Valencia but released early Saturday, Barcelona-based Doctor Music Concerts said.

Cohen was due to perform the last show of his Spanish tour at the Palau Sant Jordi concert hall in northeastern Barcelona on Monday. Trucks carrying Cohen's show had arrived at the hall on Saturday morning and were to set up as normal, a spokesman for the concert hall said.

Cohen had to come out of retirement five years ago when he discovered that most of his retirement fund had disappeared in a disputed case of mismanagement.

After leaving Spain Cohen was due to perform next at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida on Oct. 17, his Web site said.

[tomsakic]

Javier Mas' speech.

Leonard Cohen se indigesta en Valencia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrY6ifK_vXI
Explicaciones de la organización tras el desvanecimiento de Leonard Cohen en su actuación en Valencia.

[Maureen MacPhie]

Dear Leonard,
I have loved you for more than thirty five years and been a forum member for over a year but you have sure scared me into writing my first post.
I have been on edge since hearing that you had taken unwell last evening during your concert but I am SO relieved to hear you are on the mend.
Please take care because you are SO important to so many of us and we can't bear to hear of you being unwell.
Please take advice from those who are looking after you and be assured of our love and support in all you do.
With very best wishes for a full and speedy recovery and for a wonderful 75th birthday.
Much love from your number one Scottish fan,
Maureen MacPhie

[sensei_deano]

Just saw this on Sky News website, feared the worst when I first saw that he had collapsed. Still feel a little sick from the shock of that, but the reports now seem quite reassuring thankfully. I hope he is back on his feet soon and doing what he does best! Incidentally I have also flagged the youtube video as sickening and disgusting, nobody needs to see Leonard like that.

[phillip]

I sure hope he is well now it was very upsetting have been a fan for 21 years and seen Leonard in concert 4 times so hope he is well and hope he takes things easy

phillip

[ladydi]

Dear GinaDCG,

I absolutely LOVE the story about your father! He must have been quite the man! You gave me a chuckle, but also made me very impressed as to the man he was. You are/were so fortunate!

Diana