Leonard Cohen's Israel show set to go ahead despite his collapse in Spain

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By DAVID BRINN, AP
Canadian singer Leonard Cohen is recovering after collapsing onstage on Friday while on tour in eastern Spain, according to his music company. The veteran poet and performer was released from hospital on Saturday after suffering from a stomach complaint, Doctor Music Concerts said in a statement. The singer-songwriter, who is scheduled to perform at the Ramat Gan national soccer stadium on Thursday night, was diagnosed as suffering from food poisoning. Cohen was taken to a local hospital in an ambulance, and the rest of the show was cancelled. Cohen was due to perform on Monday in Barcelona before heading to Israel, but there were no official announcements as to the status of either show. Channel 2 quoted Israeli promoter Gadi Oron on Sunday night as saying that the sold-out show in Israel would go ahead, and that organizers had alternatives to the outdoor stadium if it rains. "The performance here will take place, and it will be excellent," Oron said. "There's nothing to worry about." Cohen was part-way through his song "Bird on the Wire" in Valencia when he fainted, causing the band to stop playing to rush to his aid as shocked concertgoers watched. A video showing Cohen kneeling down several times during the performance and then keeling over sideways during a saxophone solo has been placed on YouTube on the Web by a fan. The musician, who will be 75 years old on Monday, was taken in an ambulance to the Nueve de Octubre hospital in Valencia but released on Saturday, Barcelona-based Doctor Music Concerts said. Cohen is scheduled to perform the last show of his Spanish tour at the Palau Sant Jordi concert hall in northeastern Barcelona on Monday.