“She isn’t fit to tie their shoelaces!”: recounting an awkward encounter between Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed and Madonna at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

Leonard Cohen and Lou Reed in 2008, and Madonna live later the same year.

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame saw two musical greats inducted into the US music institution but a story shared this week on Instagram suggests that not everyone was on an equal footing backstage. Heading up that year’s inductees were Madonna and Leonard Cohen, the pop superstar coming off the back of her mega-successful Confessions tour and the legendary singer-songwriter coming out of the wilderness somewhat, having just announced his first tour in 15 years.

But Leonard Cohen was long past having anything to prove, renowned as an all-timer, something enforced by the fact that Lou Reed had turned up to induct him into the Rock And Roll Of Fame – in his introductory speech, Reed said, “We are so lucky to be alive at the same time Leonard Cohen is.”