leonardcohenforum.com

I know that this is going to sound like a really silly question but it has been intriquing me since I bought the woodstock 69 cd for the first time. Anyone know why Leonard didn't perform there? It would seem an obvious stage for him.

not really sure myself I could only think that perhaps he was still going through the shy phase where he would suffer badly at appearing in fron of a live audience. I know that he appeared at the Newport Folk festival but perhaps someone can enlighten us that would be interesting.

I have no idea why not; however, I have read [somewhere!] his relating that he didn't care too much for "hippies." Perhaps the prospect of being inundated by them was not too appealing. However, it turned out much huger than anyone ever anticipated. Or, perhaps the lineup seemed a bit too "raucous" for him [Jimi Hendrix, et al]? Or, perhaps he was on Hydra or entrenched in a relationship with a woman? Or, perhaps the shy thing was still going on. Hmmm.....I'd like to know, too, as it does seem it would've at least been a consideration for him.
~Lizzytysh
Perhaps Jarkko's search engine will reveal an answer, i.e. Leonard and Woodstock. It sure seems that by now someone would have inquired in an interview.

Hi Elizabeth, Maybe by 1969 Leonard had already figured out the '60's were "just another silly idea".

Bob

Right, Bob....that's the quote I had in mind, along with his editorial comments regarding hippies. The beatniks, etc. fared better by him.
Hi!
~Lizzytysh [aka]

Well actually the reason is quite simple. I heard Cohen in an interview in 1992, and he said he was never ever invited to those big manifesto-gigs. He was invited by judy Collins to New Port JAZZ festival, where he performed som songs.
But Cohens 'problem' was that he was considered to litterate for the pop-scene and to vulgar for the established art-world.

Seems he was bewteen the devil and the deep blue sea, look at how things have changed from the doom laden days of the sixties!!!
Georges

And he performed at the Isle of Wight

Yes at the isle of wight at four in the morning (maybe this was his inspiration) in his pyjamas. Maybe trying too hard to be hippy!!!
Georges

I'm not sure where Leonard was that weekend in August,1969, but I know where I was: camped out at Max Yasgur's farm near Bethel, 60 miles or so from Woodstock, listening to music and getting very wet. It should have been called the Bethel Festival, for reasons of geography, but the name "Woodstock" stuck. I was 19 years old, but as Bob Dylan sang in "My Back Pages", "I'm younger than that now".
A few months before the "Woodstock" festival, Leonard was awarded the Governor-General's Award for poetry (Selected Poems 1956-1968).Leonard declined the prize. 1969 was an important year in Leonard Cohen's career, both as a songwriter and poet.
I missed Jimi Hendrix; had to get back to New York to catch a morning flight to Chicago."Woodstock" was the first place I had seen the Vietcong flag flying in public in the U.S.A., and my first opportunity to talk to draft dodgers and Vietnam "vets".
Andrew.