Leonard Cohen Gets A New Bio For His Birthday

The legendary singer turns 78 this week, and is honoured with a loving treatment by rock journalist Sylvie Simmons. The book, fittingly titled I'm Your Man, is a thorough exploration of his memorable eight decades, beginning with his well-to-do childhood in Montreal and his teen years spent as a cheerleader who also enjoyed performing with a country western trio. Amongst her many interviews, Simmons speaks with folk singer Judy Collins, who is credited with putting him on the path of a musical career. Collins was enamoured of his talents, saying she appreciated “the fact that a Jew from Canada can take the Bible to pieces and give the Catholics a run for their money on every story they ever thought they knew.”  

In addition to his music career, the book also looks at his descent into drugs, the financial ruin that led to his twilight years comeback and at some of the famous relationships he's had over the years, including with Marianne Ihlen, who was the inspiration for "So Long Marianne", and is featured on the back cover of Cohen's second album "Songs from a Room.

Cohen is currently on tour in Europe, but is returning to the US on Halloween, and Canada in November. The 2012 leg wraps up in Brooklyn. The book is out today.