Bruce Springsteen and Rachel Zegler have paid tribute to Glen Hansard following the singer-songwriter’s death on Wednesday.
The Born to Run hitmaker honoured the Irish musician after he died aged 56 in a single-vehicle motorbike crash in Lucan, west of his home city of Dublin.
In a post on social media, Springsteen said he and his E Street Band were “heartbroken” by the tragic news.
“Here on E Street, we are heartbroken over the death of Glen Hansard,” he wrote. “We met in Ireland many years ago and he was always nothing but a great musician, a good friend and a generous and gracious man.”
The hitmaker concluded the post, “Always positive, smiling and ready to sing. God bless him and his loved ones.”
West Side Story star Zegler also paid tribute to the Frames frontman, sharing a series of photos of the pair together. In the caption, she wrote, “oh i will love you forever. rest now, my friend.”
Meanwhile, Waterboys frontman Mike Scott wrote, “Just heard that Glen Hansard has died. Travel on well, Buddy. You made your dreams come true. I’m so sorry that he leaves his wife and 3-year-old child.”
Writer Dawn O’Porter, who is married to Bridesmaids actor Chris O’Dowd, also took to social media to respond to the “horrible news”, writing, “I was lucky to meet Glen Hansard a few times. The loveliest man. I’m sorry to everyone who will feel this so deeply. His family. The saddest news.”
O’Dowd described Hansard as “an incredible decorator of our time,” adding that he “can’t believe Glen has left the world so terribly early”.
Hansard’s management team, ATC Management, confirmed his death in a statement to BBC News on Wednesday.
“Glen’s family is deeply shocked and heartbroken by this tragic loss and respectfully requests privacy at this extremely difficult time,” they wrote. “The family is grateful for the support they have received and wishes to thank the emergency services who attended the scene.”
According to the broadcaster, emergency services were called to the scene at around 4.30am local time, and police have appealed for witnesses.
Shortly before his death, Hansard announced an Irish tour for October and November, with tickets going on sale earlier this month.
