Shropshire Star

Composer Philip Glass reveals final time he spoke to Leonard Cohen

The composer also regrets not getting to know his father better.

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Composer Philip Glass (Mark Harrison/BBC/PA)

American composer Philip Glass has revealed details about the last time he spoke to Leonard Cohen just before the singing legend died.

Interviewed by The Big Issue magazine, he said: “The last time I spoke to him I asked him when he was next coming to New York. I hadn’t seen him in a while.

“He said, ‘This old car isn’t leaving the garage again’. At the time I didn’t really understand him. I think he was really saying goodbye. I never saw him again. He died about a week later.”

Leonard Cohen performing  at Glastonbury (Yui Mok/PA)
Leonard Cohen performing at Glastonbury (Yui Mok/PA)

“But generally, I don’t look back on my life. I think about what I’m doing next week. I just don’t look through the rear view mirror.”

Glass said there were still things he wanted to do, but admitted that at the age of 80 he was “running out of time”.

He added: “If I’m going to write 12 more symphonies I better get going.”

The Big Issue magazine, which is sold to help the homeless, is on sale from Monday.

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