Canadian musician Leonard Cohen is recovering after collapsing onstage while on tour in eastern Spain, his music company said today.
The veteran poet and performer has been released from hospital after suffering from a stomach complaint, Doctor Music Concerts said in a statement. It is understood he had a case of food poisoning.
Mr Cohen was part-way through his song
Bird on the Wirein Valencia when he fainted, causing the band to stop playing to rush to his aid as concertgoers watched. The concert was stopped.
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 by a fan.
The musician, who will be 75 on Monday, was taken in an ambulance to the Nueve de Octubre hospital in Valencia but released early today, his Barcelona-based Doctor said.
Cohen was due to perform the last show of his Spanish tour at the Palau Sant Jordi concert hall in northeastern Barcelona on Monday. Trucks carrying Cohen's show had arrived at the hall this morning and were to set up as normal, a spokesman for the concert hall said.
Cohen had to come out of retirement five years ago when he discovered that most of his retirement fund had disappeared in a disputed case of mismanagement.
After leaving Spain Cohen was due to perform next at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida on October 17th, his website said.
AP