American Songwriter reports that Bruce Springsteen paid tribute to Irish musician Glen Hansard after his reported death in a motorcycle crash, saying he and the E Street Band were “heartbroken”. The tribute matters because it highlights Hansard’s standing among fellow musicians and the close friendship the pair developed after meeting in Ireland.

Hansard was reported to have died aged 56, while police were still seeking witnesses to the early-morning crash. The article notes his work with the Frames, his Academy Award for “Falling Slowly”, and his final album, *All That Was East Is West of Me Now*, released in October 2023; it also recalls his 2013 performance of “Drive All Night” with Springsteen.