Leonard Cohen Announces Dates For 2012 ‘Old Ideas’ World Tour
Leonard Cohen is launching a world tour behind his new LP Old Ideas in the Fall. So far, only European dates have been announced, but a press release says that “Leonard will return to North America this Fall, details to be announced soon.” The first leg of the tour kicks off August 12th in Ghent, Belgium and wraps up October 7th in Lisbon, Portugal.
Cohen spoke to Rolling Stone in January, and indicated that he was conflicted about going back on the road. “A tour is being booked,” he said. “I haven’t signed up for it yet. I have two minds [about touring.] I don’t like to do a small tour, so whether I’m going to sign up for another couple of years . . . is that really where I want to be? Touring is like taking the first step on a walk to China.”
The 77- year-old singer-songwriter returned to the road in May of 2008 after a 15-year break. “I never thought I’d tour again, although I did have dreams,” Cohen said. “Sometimes my dreams would entail me being up on stage and not remembering the words or the chords. It had a nightmarish quality, which did not invite me to pursue the enterprise.” But Cohen’s finances took a downward turn in the early 2000s after a dispute with a former manager wiped out most of his life savings. “I was able to restore my tiny fortune within a year or so,” Cohen said. “But I kept on touring.”
The tour ran for nearly 250 shows and took Cohen around the world many times over, wrapping up on December 11th, 2010 in Las Vegas. The highly acclaimed show regularly ran well over three hours a night. When the tour wrapped, he began work on Old Ideas with producer Patrick Leonard. The sessions were fruitful, and Cohen says he already had two-thirds of another album done.
Here are the dates for the Old Ideas World Tour 2012:
August 12th – Ghent, Belgium – St. Peter’s Square
August 14th – Ghent, Belgium – St. Peter’s Square
August 25th – Copenhagen, Denmark – Rosenborg Castle
August 26th – Aalborg, Denmark – Molleparken
August 28th – Bergen, Norway – Bergenhus Festning-Koengen
August 31st – Gothenberg, Sweden – Tradgardsforeningen
September 2nd – Helsinki, Finland – Sonera Stadium
September 5th – Berlin, Germany – Wuhlheide
September 6th – Monchengladbach, Germany – Hockey Field
September 11th – Dublin, Ireland – Imma
September 12th – Dublin, Ireland – Imma
September 25th – Verona, Italy – Verona Arena
September 28th – Paris, France – Olympia
September 29th – Paris, France – Olympia
September 30th – Paris, France – Olympia
October 3rd – Barcelona, Spain – St. Jordi
October 5th – Madrid, Spain – Palais Desportes
October 7th – Lisbon, Portugal – Pavilhao Atlantico