Leonard Cohen will embark on his first concert tour in fifteen years, according to a statement posted today on his official website. “Leonard will be touring with his band in Canada and US in May and in Europe in the summer,” it says before adding, “More details will be announced in February.”

While he has sparingly appeared at selective concerts and book signings, the legendary musician and author has not launched a full-scale concert tour since 1993 in support of his album, The Future. His most recent effort, Dear Heather, was released in 2004.

In a prolific career spanning five decades, Leonard Cohen has produced fourteen albums as well as ten books of poetry and two novels. Though he has maintained varying levels of success, his works and stature have enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in recent years. In 2003, the Montreal native received his homeland’s highest civilian honor, Companion of the Order of Canada. In 2005, the documentary, Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man, premiered in film festivals and movie theatres around the world.

2006 saw the publications of Book of Longing, Cohen’s first collection of original poetry in twenty-two years, as well as a 50th anniversary edition of his inaugural book of poems, Let Us Compare Mythologies. The same year, singer/songwriter (and Cohen paramour) Anjani released Blue Alert, an album produced from Cohen’s extensive surplus of lyrics.

Most recently, Cohen contributed a recitative version of “The Jungle Line” to Herbie Hancock’s all-star album, River: The Joni Letters, which is nominated for Album of the Year at this year’s Grammy Awards. And lastly, on March 10, Cohen will join Madonna, John Mellencamp, the Dave Clark Five, and the Ventures as an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Check back with Blogcritics.org for further developments, including tour dates and venues, concerning Leonard Cohen’s 2008 concert tour.