Glen Hansard, the Oscar-winning Irish singer and actor, died in the early hours of Wednesday, July 29, after a motorcycle collision in Lucan, Dublin. He was 56 years old.
Hansard was a close friend of Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder for over 15 years, joining him on solo tours in 2011, 2012, 2017, and 2019. In a recent interview with Track Star, Hansard recounted how Vedder reached out to him in 2010 after a tragedy at one of his live shows where a young man died by suicide on stage.
Hansard shared that Vedder called him daily for five days, offering support during the traumatic time. This led to a collaboration on a cover of The Everly Brothers' 'Sleepless Nights' in Seattle, which Vedder hoped would be cathartic for both of them, given Pearl Jam's own experience with a crowd crush at Roskilde Festival in 2000.
Tributes have been paid by numerous artists and public figures, including Bruce Springsteen, Rachel Zegler, Warren Ellis, and former President of Ireland Michael D Higgins. Irish radio broadcaster Dave Fanning described Hansard as "one our best ever songwriters and the nicest guy you'll ever meet."
Hansard also contributed to Vedder's 'Earthlings' backing band, providing rhythm guitar and backing vocals for the 2022 solo album tour. He was also remembered for his performances in the films Once and The Commitments.