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Ed Sheeran 'isolating' in Australia before Michael Gudinski's funeral
Ed Sheeran is reportedly self-isolating in Australia ahead of his performance at friend and music legend Michael Gudinski's funeral.
Ed and the music executive were good friends, with Gudinski helping the singer break the record for most tickets sold for a single concert tour in 2018.
Gudinski, who was the founder of Mushroom Records and Frontier Touring, died unexpectedly on Monday, March 1 at the age of 68.
Daily Mail reports Ed quietly flew into the country a few days ago and has been quarantining in a private home in Byron Bay.
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Gudinski's state funeral will be held in Melbourne on March 24.
He famously launched Kylie Minogue's music career, signing her to Mushroom and releasing Locomotion in 1987, which was the highest-selling Australian single of the decade.
Last year, Gudinski pulled together the Music From the Home Front TV concert in just nine days with artists such as Jimmy Barnes, Crowded House, James Reyne, Mark Seymour and Kate Ceberano getting involved.
He was also working on another concert for Anzac Day this year.
Gudinski was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2006.
Ed shared a lengthy tribute to his friend on March 5, saying it has been "so hard to put into words" how much Michael meant to him.
"Michael was a tornado of joy," he wrote. "You would know he arrived in the building just by hearing the chaotic bark of his, and you could feel the room get excited about the arrival of his presence.
"He was such a force, and would make everyone feel like they were the most important person to him. He had a way with words, that most people couldn't understand. We always joked he needed a translator because of the pure speed in which he would talk in a thick growling Aussie accent.
"But his passion was always the thing you never needed translating, as you could feel it whenever he spoke."
The singer continued, saying how Gudinski was a "champion of up and coming artists" and would be as excited by a smaller artist as he would by legends like Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney.
"His legacy is unmatchable and will live on for hundreds of years. To me, and many others, he is the heart of Australian music, and always will be."
Ed spoke of how Gudinski was a "father figure and mentor", adding, "Every memory I have of him is so clear and so precise because every moment was electric."
He recalled that when they'd finished touring in 2018, Gudinski asked what Ed would want as an end of tour gift, with Ed telling him he wanted a life-sized bronze statue of him so the pair could always enjoy a drink together at Ed's house, no matter the distance between them.
"A year later, this statue turns up... Me and him have had a drink together with the statue many times and laughed at how ridiculous it is. The night he passed, I was very grateful to be able to share his favourite win with him and say goodbye.
"And will be eternally grateful that I can now do this every night from now on. Nothing will fill the void he left in our lives, but the memories we all have of him will live on. He's everyone's favourite story, and I will make sure I keep sharing all of my amazing stories I have of him. I've loved hearing everyone else's this week.
"In between the tears, there has been laughter and joy, remembering this Titan of a man," he said.
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