Ed Sheeran arrived in Melbourne, Australia on Monday ahead of his performance at the funeral of music mogul, Michael Gudinski.
The British singer, 30, flew in via private jet with his wife Cherry Seaborn, 28, and the couple’s baby daughter, Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran, seven months.
The family are believed to have completed their mandatory 14-day quarantine at a private retreat in the picturesque Hawkesbury region of NSW, prior to their arrival in Melbourne.
Arrival: Ed Sheeran (centre) arrived in Melbourne, Australia on Monday ahead of his performance at the funeral of music mogul, Michael Gudinski
A number of minders were on hand to cover the family with umbrellas, as rain poured down during what has been an exceptionally stormy week.
Ed dashed across the tarmac, dressed casually in jeans, high-top sneakers and a black hoodie.
He carried the couple’s young daughter in his arms, keeping her close and warm as rain belted down.
Family affair: The British singer, 30, flew in via private jet with his wife Cherry Seaborn, 28, and the couple’s baby daughter, Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran, seven months
In town: The family are believed to have completed their mandatory 14-day quarantine at a private retreat in picturesque the Hawkesbury region of NSW, prior to arriving in Melbourne
A little help: A number of minders were on hand to cover the family with umbrellas, as rain poured down during what has been a very stormy week. Ed carried his young daughter
He was closely followed by Cherry, who was all smiles despite the bad weather as she made her way down the stairs from the jet.
Wearing a black face mask which was pulled down, she laughed widely, sharing a joke with a helper who awaited her with a black umbrella at the ready.
She was also dressed casually, wearing a hoodie and comfortable bottoms, and carrying a heaving black backpack, as well as several tote bags.
Incoming: He was closely followed by Cherry, who was all smiles despite the bad weather as she made her way down the stairs from the jet
Good spirits: Wearing a black face mask which was pulled down, she laughed widely, sharing a joke with a helper who awaited her with a black umbrella at the ready
Ed is set to perform at the state funeral of his good friend, Michael Gudinski, on March 24.
The legendary music executive helped the Shape Of You singer break the record for most tickets sold for a single concert tour in 2018.
Gudinski, the founder of Mushroom Records and Frontier Touring, died unexpectedly on Monday, March 1. He was 68.
He shared a close friendship with Sheeran, having promoted the singer’s highly successful Australasian tour three years ago, which saw more than a million tickets sold, shattering the previous record set by Dire Straits in 1986.
Tribute: Ed is set to perform at the state funeral of his good friend, Michael Gudinski (pictured right) on March 24. The legendary music executive helped the Shape Of You singer break the record for most tickets sold for a single concert tour in 2018
Sheeran had paid tribute to Gudinski in a lengthy Instagram post on March 5, and described the late Mushroom Group boss as a ‘father figure and a mentor’.
He said Gudinski was a ‘tornado of joy’ and that it was ‘hard to put into words’ the impact the promoter had on him.
‘Michael was a tornado of joy. 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 said.
Gone, but not forgotten: Gudinski (pictured), the founder of Mushroom Records and Frontier Touring, died unexpectedly on Monday, March 1. He was 68
‘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.’
He added: ‘To me, and many others, he is the heart of Australian music, and always will be.
Pals: He shared a close friendship with Sheeran, having promoted the star’s highly successful Australasian tour three years ago. He later gave the British singer – at his request – a life-sized bronze statue of himself as an end-of-tour gift
‘We were, first and foremost, friends. He was a father figure and mentor to me, but also we enjoyed the peaks of our touring career together in 2018, breaking the record for most tickets sold in Australia.’
Gudinski helped promote Ed Sheeran’s record-breaking Australasian tour in 2018, which saw more than a million tickets sold.
With Frontier’s help, Sheeran shattered the record set by Dire Straits 32 years earlier, when they sold 950,000 tickets on one tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1986.
Close bond: Gudinski and Sheeran are pictured at Optus Stadium during a media call for the launch of Sheeran’s record-breaking Australia-New Zealand tour on March 1, 2018, in Perth
Gudinski was ecstatic at the media call with Sheeran, saying at the time: ‘Frontier has toured some of the biggest names in music, including Springsteen and the E Street Band, Paul McCartney, and The Rolling Stones, but I’ve never seen a tour like Ed’s.
‘To sell one million tickets is simply phenomenal!’
Gudinski had memorably gifted Sheeran a life-sized bronze statue of himself as an end-of-tour gift, at the British superstar’s request.
Sheeran said that while the gift was a joke, he was glad to have it because he could now ‘share his favourite wine with him and say goodbye’.
Emotional: Sheeran had paid tribute to Gudinski in a lengthy Instagram post on March 5, and described the late Mushroom Group boss as a ‘father figure and a mentor’
‘Nothing will fill the void he left in our lives, but the memories we all have of him will live on,’ he continued in his tribute.
‘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 signed off the message: ‘Number one son x.’
Gudinski, who was widely regarded as the ‘father of the Australian music industry’, died in Melbourne on Monday, March 1.
Rest in peace: Gudinski (pictured with Kylie, left, and Dannii Minogue, right, in 2009) died in Melbourne on March 1. His cause of death is unknown at this point
His family confirmed his passing the following morning, but his cause of death is still unknown at this point.
He leaves behind wife Sue, children Matt and Kate, and two grandchildren.
The music promoter formed record company Mushroom Records at just 20 years old, and went on to sign and launch the careers of local artists such as Kylie Minogue, who is now one of the biggest pop stars in the world.
In 1979, he established concert promoter Frontier Touring and stayed at its helm until his death.
Family: Gudinski is survived by wife Sue (right), children Matt and Kate, and two grandchildren