10 Facts About Leonard Cohen Worth Remembering

Cohen’s first band, the Buckskin Boys, was formed when he was 17.

Cohen started his songwriting career when he already was over 30 and an established poet and novelist.

One of Cohen’s books, Beautiful Losers (1966), was described by one reviewer as "the most revolting book ever written in Canada."

Suzanne, written by Cohen in 1960s and first recorded by Judy Collins in 1966, became one of the most-covered songs in Cohen's catalogue.

His song Chelsea Hotel No 2 describes (in graphic detail) some aspects of Cohen’s brief relationship with Janice Joplin.

Cohen’s hero was Federico Garcia Lorca; he even named his daughter after the poet.

In 2003 Cohen was made a Companion to the Order of Canada by Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson.

During his music career Cohen tried numerous styles, from acoustic folk to electro-pop.

When asked where his songs come from, he replied "If I knew, I'd go there more often."

"As you get older, you get less willing to buy the latest version of reality," Cohen told Musician magazine in 1988.