Having treated us to those brilliant Kilmainham, 02 and Lissadell House shows, it was no surprise that Ireland went into collective mourning on November 11 when news broke that Leonard Cohen had passed away earlier in the week.
Team Hot Press immediately started contacting record companies, agents, promoters and friends of friends who might have been able to put us in touch with Leonard’s inner circle for the tribute issue that needed to be pulled together within four days.
We understood that for some of them it would be too early and painful to share their memories but, almost without fail, we got messages back saying, “Yes, they’d love to talk to you.”
It soon became apparent that, one, everybody in Leonard’s orbit adored the man and, two, the Irish love affair was mutual with both Sharon Robinson and The Webb Sisters confirming just how much he enjoyed playing in the land of saints and scholars including his beloved William Butler Yeats.
We also spoke to his old friends Judy Collins and Suzanne Vega; his biographer Sylvie Simmons who was one of the few people who got to hang with Leonard at home; the man who brought him to Lissadell, John Reynolds, and musical admirers Mike Scott, Cathal Coughlan, Gavin Friday and Camille O’Sullivan.
We hoped that we’d done Leonard justice, but were stunned by the incredible fan reaction to the tribute issue which, starting tomorrow, Thursday December 22, we'll be sharing online.

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