world
Court Ruling Clears Path for Release of Leonard Cohen's 1972 Israel Concert Archives
A court-appointed referee ruled that Leonard Cohen's former manager Robert Kory acted properly in managing the singer's estate. The decision may allow release of previously locked audio and video footage from Cohen's 1972 concerts in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
May 22, 7:20 AM·1m read1 source
JE
thequint.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
A court-appointed referee ruled on March 24 that Robert Kory, former manager and trustee of the Leonard Cohen estate, had fully carried out the singer's wishes and committed no wrongdoing. The ruling came after a 10-day trial in a lawsuit filed by Cohen's children, Adam and Lorca, who had accused Kory of misconduct.
Post by @Jerusalem_Post on X
The decision increases the likelihood that extensive audio and video footage from Cohen's 1972 concerts in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, along with hours of additional material recorded during that visit, could be released. The material has remained locked since Cohen's death in 2016.
Background on the 1972 Concerts Cohen performed two concerts in Israel in 1972, one in Jerusalem and one in Tel Aviv. In Jerusalem, Cohen experienced an onstage crisis after ingesting LSD before the show, left the stage at intermission, shaved, and returned for the second half.
The Tel Aviv concert at Yad Eliyahu sports arena involved clashes between audience members and security personnel. Snippets of film and audio from the shows have surfaced over the years. A 1974 documentary by Tony Palmer that included some footage was withdrawn from circulation at Cohen's request.
The archive includes audio and video from the 1972 concerts, additional footage of Cohen at various locations including the Western Wall, and extensive notebooks, music, and film material. Kory had planned to donate the archive to Canadian universities and museums, but the children blocked the plan through legal action.
" Kory assumed management of Cohen's affairs in 2004 after a previous manager stole the singer's savings and later became his personal manager in 2008. Kory arranged Cohen's 2009 concert at Ramat Gan Stadium as a charity event benefiting coexistence efforts between Israelis and Palestinians.
