Leonard Cohen, the Canadian troubadour who defied age, scandal, failure and popular trend to become one of the world's most cherished artists, has died. He was 82.
'It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen, has passed away,' a statement on his official Facebook page read. 'We have lost one of music's most revered and prolific visionaries.'
The Montreal-born musician only released his 14th studio album, You Want it Darker, on October 21. It's a record that met with near-universal acclaim, and one in which the emotional range of Cohen's voice is on proud display, dripping sorrow, seething with rage, cackling in bitterness and lilting with regret. And, in retrospect, just like Bowie's last album, it feels like Cohen knew this was going to be his swan song.
'I am ready to die,' the legendary ladies' man told the New Yorker in a recent interview. 'I hope it's not too uncomfortable. That's about it from me.'
So long, Leonard.