leonardcohenforum.com

Does anyone know what Leonard Cohen's official recording policy is? Does he mind people recording his concerts, or is he against it?

Personally he doesn't mind - he said (years ago) it's kind of document of his state of mind and his music and relationship with the audience.

LC always was the documenting guy, as you probably now, in first pages of Nadel's biography he says he's goal is to document his life as it's only what he can do (all diaries, writings, versions, drafts, poems, letters, etc.). Now with the digital equipment he finally can record all his shows, and that's what he does every night (there are hardly couple of recordings from older tours it seems).

A related question- does anyone know if every concert is still being filmed? (I mean officially, by Leonard's techs)
Seems like early in the tour I read that every show was not only recorded but filmed and I wonder if this is still true.

I would doubt that Cohen endorses a bootleggers charter wholesale. That recent article about the hospital gig he played in london before the Isle of Wight festival suggests a position similar to other musicians I know: no problem with a fan recording for personal consumption but Id prefer you not to make commercial use of it as if it belongs to you.

I am not familiar about this pre-show appearance at a hospital? Can you fill me in or direct me to a thread that may have covered it?

Daevid

Here it is:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=14338

..and the relevant segment of the article about the request for release of the 1970 Henderson Tower live recording (effectively for charity) reads as follows:

In July 2005, Ian Milne asked
Leonard’s then agent, Michelle
Findlay, if he could publish his
Henderson concert CD, with a
share of the proceeds going to the
Henderson. Cohen replied:
Dear Michelle
Please thank Ian for keeping his word
The tape belongs to him
And I would prefer it to remain in his
archives
Perhaps in the future
I can find some other way to help
Henderson
Thanks
L

Of course the recordings are not meant for sale, I was thinking we all agree about that That old Leonard's answer about "fan recordings" is actually the same as that one from 2005 - it's OK as it's for archives and fans.

Do not forget the story behind his answer re: Henderson tape - his back catalogue is owned by Sony since Stranger Music Ltd. was sold to them, the situation is quite complicated and he's not in position to give any promises. I mean, even the re-releases of his albums had to be stopped! (Read carefully: "perhaps in the future / I can some other way to help" because he can't help it now.)

So I wanna tape Leonard at Merriweather Post on Monday, May 11th. Once my bag is in the door, I don't have to run a mic stand...I can hand hold or (preferably) wear them on a hat. I can't find an official position anywhere.....does anyone know if I will be allowed to bring in a bag of recording gear?

Also, if I just show up at the fan club early entrance....will I be able to get in by telling them I'm with the fan club. How seriously are they checking names, etc.

As the show is quickly approaching, I'd really appreciate an emailed response.....

thanks in advance,
-bry

durhambrian@hotmail.com

I am sure conditions can change drastically from venue to venue. I couldn't get my ticket until two hours before the show as I had bought it through the pre-sale. On the ticket in Winnipeg it did say words to the effect "no cameras, video or recording equipment". That however, may be on every ticket printed for every event at the MTS Centre (making it a venue policy and not an artist/management policy.

By the way I could have walked in with my old Tascam 4 track cassette deck; security was so loose. They just wanted to make sure I had a ticket.

Daevid

jadedphan wrote:So I wanna tape Leonard at Merriweather Post on Monday, May 11th. Once my bag is in the door, I don't have to run a mic stand...I can hand hold or (preferably) wear them on a hat. I can't find an official position anywhere.....does anyone know if I will be allowed to bring in a bag of recording gear?

Also, if I just show up at the fan club early entrance....will I be able to get in by telling them I'm with the fan club. How seriously are they checking names, etc.

As the show is quickly approaching, I'd really appreciate an emailed response.....

thanks in advance,
-bry

durhambrian@hotmail.com

I need an official statement though, I'm trying to become a moderator for Cohen shows on etree.org, and I need some kind of official statement from Leonard or a handler stating he ok's recordings of his shows. Is there someone I can contact regarding this, either on this board or elsewhere?

I guess that officially you'll always get NO as an answer...