Irish singer Glen Hansard has died at 56 after a motorcycle accident in Dublin. Musicians around the world paid tribute, including Bono and Bruce Springsteen.
Bono often joined Hansard’s Christmas Eve busk in Dublin, which raised money for people experiencing homelessness. On Instagram he shared a video of them singing “Invisible” together. Bono called Hansard an “angelic presence” and a “musical and mischievous archangel of Ballymun.” He wrote that Hansard will live on every time he sees a coin spin into an open guitar case.
Springsteen posted that E Street is “heartbroken.” He said they met in Ireland years ago and that Hansard was a great musician, a good friend and a generous man. Springsteen remembered him as always positive, smiling and ready to sing.
The day before his death, Hansard’s social channels shared a clip of him performing “Drive All Night” with Springsteen in Ireland. Hansard released his own version of that song in 2013. His recording featured Eddie Vedder on backing vocals and Jake Clemons of the E Street Band on sax. The song was on Hansard’s 2013 EP, also called Drive All Night.
Other artists who paid tribute include Ed Sheeran, Finneas, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rachel Zegler and The War and Treaty. Fans and fellow musicians are remembering Hansard’s voice, his live shows and his kindness.
