Bono Shares Tribute To The Late Glen Hansard: “He Was Such An Angelic Presence”

Bono and Glen Hansard are two of Ireland's greatest rock frontmen, and their paths crossed many times. Today, in light of Hansard's shocking death in a motorcycle accident early this morning, the U2 singer has shared an effusive heartfelt tribute to the Frames/Swell Season singer.Hansard, like Bono, was a fixture of the Simon Community's annual Christmas Eve charity busking event on Grafton Street in Dublin, a benefit for the city's homeless population. The event has since moved off the street to a stage, and in 2020 took place in a TV studio to avoid gathering large crowds in the "social distancing" era. Hansard got his start as a teenage busker in Dublin, and according to Bono, he brought a crucial perspective to the yearly gathering.Here's the full text of Bono's statement:Sometimes I would wonder if Glen Hansard really existed….Seriously, he was such an angelic presence… not otherworldly…in fact, very present this presence…A smiling rascal if you needed him to be… this most musical and mischievous archangel of Ballymun… no airs, plenty of graces…Of course, Glen was the shining star of the Christmas Eve busk… sometimes the only one reminding the rest of us that Christmas began w...