Ed Sheeran.Photo: Aussie Talent/Youtube
Ed Sheeranwore his emotions on his sleeve during his tribute performance in honor of his late friend Michael Gudinski.
Gudinski was an Australian entrepreneur and music executive who played a pivotal role in his native country’s music industry. He died on March 2 at the age of 68. His cause of death is unclear at this time. Many outlets reported that Gudinski died in his sleep at his Melbourne, Australia home, but Sydney radio station 2GBreportedthat he suffered a heart attack.
Sheeran’s heartfelt performance came on Wednesday night during a live-streamed Melbourne memorial service (held at the Rod Laver Arena) in recognition of the late Gudinski, during which the star, 30, debuted his new song “Visiting Hours.” More than 7,000 guests were in attendance at the stadium, according toBillboard.
Of his new tune, the Grammy-winner said, “In [COVID-19] lockdown I was able to have a guitar for quarantine and I always find [that] the best way to process stuff [for me] is to write songs, be it good news, bad news or whatever and here is a song I finished last week.”
Michael Gudinski and Ed Sheeran.Matt Jelonek/WireImage
At one point, he sang, “I wish that heaven had visiting hours / So I just could show up / And bring good news / That she’s getting older / And I wish that you’d met her / The things that she’ll learn from me / I got them all from you.”
On March 5, just days after Gudinski’s death, Sheeran penned aheartfelt postwhich he shared on Instagram, in which he wrote, “It’s so hard to put into words how much Michael meant to me, and to all of us who knew him.”
Ed Sheeran, Michael Gudinski.Mike Marsland/WireImage; Martin Philbey/Redferns
The star went on to describe Gudinski as “a champion of up-and-coming artists” and wrote, “We were, first and foremost, friends. He was a father figure and mentor to me, but we also enjoyed the peaks of our touring career together in 2018.”
In addition to Sheeran’s appearance, Wednesday night’s ceremony also included recorded tributes from several stars including:Taylor Swift,Dave Grohl,Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams, Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme, Sam Smith,Elton JohnandBilly Joel.
Fellow artists Kylie Minogue, Paul Kelly, Sting and Jimmy Barnes were among those to perform.
source: people.com
