Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran, Sting Pay Tribute At Michael Gudinski’s State Memorial

Mushroom Creative House – Gudinski Memorial
Ed Sheeran performs at Rod Laver Arena during the concert promotion legend

Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran and Sting were among dozens of global and Australian music A-listers paying tribute to Michael Gudinski at his state memorial March 24.

The three-hour show at the 15,000-seat Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne (capped at 7,200 for COVID restrictions) began at 7:07 p.m. local time, chosen for his favourite tipple Penfolds Bin 707.

Earlier in the day, the Australian Recording Industry Association announced the best breakthrough artist category at the ARIA awards would become the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist ARIA, to honour his track record of breaking young acts. Four acts he signed previously won the category.

In a video link, Springsteen, who described the impresario as a friend, called him “last breed” of old school larger than life promoters. “When you thought of Australia, you thought of Michael.”

It saddened him to think that the industry was losing that type of individual. “He was a music man. He wasn’t excited about the receipts, he was excited about the show,” Springsteen said.

A video played of the Boss and the E-Street Band performing “I’ll See You In My Dreams” from his current Letter To You album, which he had written for friends who recently passed.

Sting performed “The Empty Chair” via video, ending, “I miss you brother, I miss you.”

Ed Sheeran who had a father/son relationship with Gudinski – the latter’s Frontier Touring built the British singer-songwriter up very early on Down Under to the point he sold 1 million tickets in Australia and New Zealand during a 2018 run – chose to travel to Australia to perform “Castle On The Hill” and “The A Team”.

While serving a mandatory two-week quarantine in Byron Bay, he wrote a song “Visiting Hours” about his loss. While premiering the song at the memorial, lyrics about going to heaven to ask if he could take Michael home after visiting hours, proved too much and he burst into tears midway.

He returned to play guitar for Kylie Minogue on two tracks, one her debut single from 1987, “Locomotion,” which she acknowledged, “The big G took this little scrawny girl from Melbourne to the world and back home again. He believed in you when you couldn’t believe in yourself.”

Mushroom Creative House – Elton & Taylor
Elton John and Taylor Swift pay their respects

Jimmy Barnes, whose family is close to the Gudinskis (his singer daughter Mahalia is a god daughter) also unveiled a new song, “Flesh And Blood”, which he had played to his friend week earlier.

Written about family ties, the song took on a greater resonance since Michael’s passing March 2.

“Michael was my mate, my brother, my partner in crime. We laughed, we fought, we cried together. He was my hero. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Michael, he was one of a kind.

“Australian music would not be what it is today without his support and nurturing.”

Barnes also performed the tender “Little Light” and his band Cold Chisel’s “When The War Is Over” before returning with the rest of the night’s cast to play the Australian classic “Good Times” to finish the night on a rock-out high.

Singer/songwriter Mark Seymour was joined by gospel sisters Vika & Linda Bull for his “Throw Your Arms Around Me.” Mia Wray – the 24-year-old pop singer/songwriter who was Gudinski’s latest protégé – also took the stage. Before performing his most Melbourne song “Leaps And Bounds,” Paul Kelly spoke of Gudinski’s strong support for First Australian talent even when he knew they wouldn’t be playlisted on commercial radio.

Speakers on the night ranged from the governor of Victoria to a football-loving rabbi to Gudinski’s two children, one of whom his son Matt is the executive director of the Mushroom Group which includes Frontier Touring.

Video tributes came from Taylor Swift, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Billy Joel, Kings of Leon, The Eagles, Queens of the Stone Age, Midnight Oil, Garbage, Amy Shark, Bryan Adams, Daryl Braithwaite, Deborah Conway, Sam Smith, Ian Moss, Missy Higgins, Kate Ceberano, Christine Anu, Dan Sultan, Troy-Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers and Bliss N Eso.

Dave Grohl summed up, “I’m a firm believer of magic and magical people, and Michael Gudinski was one of them. He knew it: he didn’t enter a room, he charged into it.”