Leonard Cohen was in ‘deep pain’ caused by cancer

Leonard Cohen was in "deep pain" caused by cancer before he died.

The ‘Hurricane’ hitmaker passed away at the age of 82, and although no exact date and cause of death has been confirmed, it has been claimed that the iconic musician was suffering from the disease and had been physically debilitated by the illness.

David Remnick – who interviewed Cohen in the summer for The New Yorker magazine – said during The New Yorker Radio Hour on Thursday (11.10.16): "When I visited Cohen in Los Angeles he was suffering from cancer although he was keeping that very private. He was in deep pain from compression fractures in his spine and he had to sit in a big blue medical chair to ease that pain.

"He was very thin already. Maybe 105, 110lbs. But I’ve got to say he was in an ebullient mood for a man who knew where life was taking him and he was headed there in a hurry. And at the same time, he was incredibly gracious. The most gracious host this side of my mother."

The news comes after his passing was announced on the Facebook page of the ‘Hallelujah’ hitmaker.

The post on the social media site read: "It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen has passed away. We have lost one of music’s most revered and prolific visionaries."

Cohen – who released his final album, ‘You Want It Darker’ last month – passed away "with the knowledge that he had completed what he felt was one of his greatest records", according to his son Adam.

Adam said: "My father passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles with the knowledge that he had completed what he felt was one of his greatest records. Unmatched in his creativity, insight and crippling candour, Leonard Cohen was a true visionary whose voice will be sorely missed. He was writing up until his last moments with his unique brand of humour."