Glen Hansard spoke of profound bond with Eddie Vedder before his death

Glen Hansard reflected on his deep friendship with Eddie Vedder in what would be his final interview, speaking to Track Star last month about the Pearl Jam frontman's unexpected kindness during one of the darkest moments of his life.

Hansard, who died in a motorcycle crash on 29 July, described how Vedder reached out to him in 2010 after a suicide occurred at one of his live shows. "I was in a really really shitty spot," Hansard recalled. "Someone had killed themselves on my stage. A young man commits suicide because he was trying to make a point to his girlfriend." The incident left him uncertain whether to continue touring.

When Vedder, who had experienced his own tragedy at Pearl Jam's 2000 performance at Denmark's Roskilde Festival (where nine fans died in a crowd crush), learned of Hansard's situation, he called from an unknown number. "It was so kind. We spoke for an hour on the phone and he said 'Do you mind if I call you tomorrow?'" Hansard shared. Over five days, Vedder called repeatedly, eventually offering his number and an invitation to visit Seattle.

The connection deepened when Hansard travelled to Seattle later that year and Vedder invited him to collaborate on a cover of The Everly Brothers's 'Sleepless Nights', which both musicians hoped would be cathartic. "That was the beginning of a now-15-year, very close friendship with this beautiful man," Hansard said, according to NME. The two subsequently toured together across multiple years and collaborated as part of Vedder's 'Earthlings' backing band for his 2022 album, with Hansard providing rhythm guitar and backing vocals alongside members including Red Hot Chili Peppers' Josh Klinghoffer and drummer Chad Smith.