Cohen injured, reschedules european tour

Leonard Cohen has been forced to reschedule a string of European concerts so he can allow a sports-related injury to fully heal.

The 75-year-old Bird On A Wire singer suffered a "compression injury in his lower back" while exercising recently, according to his publicist.

The spokeswoman tells WENN, "He has been advised by physicians to follow the typical four-to-six month regime of physical therapy prescribed for athletes with similar injuries."

The singer/songwriter's manager, Robert Kory, adds, "Doctors have confirmed that Mr. Cohen is otherwise in terrific shape, thanks to years of exercise and a careful diet, and simply needs appropriate time to recover from the lower back injury."

As a result, all 13 of Cohen's 2010 European dates will be rescheduled.

Just last year (09), Cohen was forced to sit out of a show in Europe after collapsing onstage in Valencia, Spain.

His concert was cut short after he fainted mid-song and was taken to the city's Nueve de Octubre hospital, where he was treated for stomach flu.

But he returned to the stage to celebrate his 75th birthday with a three-hour show in front of 14,000 fans in Barcelona, Spain.

Since his return to the stage in May, 2008, Cohen has played 191 sold out shows around the world, and he recently picked up a Lifetime Achievement Special Merit Award at the 2010 Grammys.