Bono, Bruce Springsteen, and Cat Power Pay Tribute to Glen Hansard

Glen Hansard, the Irish singer-songwriter and frontman of The Frames who became an international name through the film Once, died on 29 July in a motorcycle crash. He was 56.

The loss reverberated through the global music community. Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Cat Power, Warren Ellis, Courtney Marie Andrews, and The Mountain Goats each posted public tributes, painting a portrait of a man defined by authenticity and generosity.

A "Voice of the Streets"

Bono's remembrance centred on Hansard's commitment to street life and the homeless community. In an extended Instagram post, the U2 frontman described Hansard as "a smiling rascal" and "an archangel of Ballymun"—the Dublin neighbourhood where Hansard busked regularly. Bono recalled Hansard's insistence on performing at street level rather than on elevated stages, viewing the street as his truest performance space and street people as his favourite audience.

The post highlighted Hansard's activism beyond music: his work to reduce homelessness and his habit of stopping to check on rough sleepers. "To be utterly yourself by being more interested in others," Bono wrote, "a clue for any of us trying out different personas."

A Musician's Musician

Bruce Springsteen kept his tribute brief but direct: "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. Always positive, smiling and ready to sing."

Cat Power, reflecting on Hansard's family, wrote simply: "I ache for your beautiful family, Ed, Mike, & Oli. All my love Glen." Courtney Marie Andrews emphasised Hansard's devotion to his craft: "Glen embodied what it means to be a lifelong musician. He made a great impact on us all."

Warren Ellis shared a personal anecdote, recalling that when he had placed Ellis and his band Dirty Three on a guest list for a Boston show, Hansard paid for his ticket without mentioning it—a small gesture that exemplified his quiet loyalty.

The Arc of a Life

The Mountain Goats observed: "His love of music was palpable, infectious, radiant." Irish actor and comedian Chris O'Dowd, a fellow countryman, drew a larger frame around Hansard's legacy. Quoting artist Jean-Michel Basquiat—"Art is how we decorate space and music is how we decorate time"—O'Dowd described Hansard as an "incredible decorator of our time," whose melodies and searching voice made difficult periods bearable and joyful ones richer.

Sharon Van Etten posted to Instagram Stories: "Such a light. A beautiful soul. In it for all the right reasons."

What emerged across these tributes was consensus: Hansard's significance lay not in a moment of viral fame or chart dominance, but in consistency. He was present—in his neighbourhood, for his friends, at street level with people society often overlooks. The Once soundtrack, which brought him international recognition, was only one chapter in a life dedicated to music as a practice of connection rather than ambition.

Bono closed his remembrance with a forward-looking thought: "if he never existed, then he can never cease to exist. For me, he will always be everywhere I see a coin spinning into an open guitar case."