Leonard Cohen Helps Australian Fire Victims

02/10/09 3:48pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Leonard Cohen, tourmate singer/songwriter Paul Kelly, concert promotion company AEGLive UK and the Frontier Touring Company will donate $200,000 Australian (about $162,000 Canadian) to help victims of the bush fire disaster that's wreaking havoc in southern Australia.

Cohen plays the final show of his Australian tour in Melbourne, just south of where the most damage has occurred, on Tuesday.

"Leonard has loved his time in Australia on this tour and is shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the fires," says tour promoter Michael Gudinski.

"Leonard, Paul, their touring parties and everyone at AEGLive UK and the Frontier Touring Company wish to extend their heartfelt sympathies to those that have suffered the loss of loved ones or their homes through this terrible tragedy."

Several bush fires ignited in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria on Saturday. The fires have since destroyed at least 900 homes and left more than 5,000 people homeless. They're also estimated to have claimed at least 180 lives, and that number is expected to rise.

Entire towns have been destroyed in the blazes, which began during a heatwave and were likely caused by lightning strikes. But police believe some of the fires are the work of arsonists.

Cohen said he was forced to tour for the first time in 15 years last year because his former manager took $5 million U.S. (about $6.2 million Canadian) from his retirement fund.

Cohen will play New York City's Beacon Theatre on Feb. 19 and the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on April 17.