1. Ed Built Up His Talents at 4 Years-Old
Ed sang in a local church choir from the age of four and learnt to play the guitar at the age of 11 and piano from a young age, too. He later wrote songs while he was in high school and began recording music when he was 13. He wrote his first song, “Typical Average Teen,” at just 14 years old.
2. He Plays Many Instruments
The artist plays more than just the guitar. He also plays the piano, bass, drums and cello. Ed’s first guitar was given to him as a gift by his uncle.
3. Eminem Helped His Childhood Stutter
Ed has revealed that he had a stutter as a child, in which he was teased for in school. “You’d put your hand up and not be able to speak. And kids are cruel. So once that would happen, someone would imitate it. And then you’d be like, ‘I’m not going to put my hand up next time,’” he told Rolling Stone. After traditional therapy didn’t work, Ed found relief in an unexpected place: Eminem’s music. By diligently learning the rapper’s “fast and melodic” lyrics, Ed was able to overcome his stutter by the age of 10!
4. He Made Music Long Before 2011
Before Ed took center stage as an international superstar, he was independently releasing EPs. The superstar recorded 10 EPs including The Orange Room and Want Some, before releasing his debut single, The A Team.
5. ‘The A-Team’ Was Inspired by a Homeless Woman
Most of Ed’s songs are based on real-life experiences. The A-Team, in particular, was inspired by a woman he met during a gig at a homeless shelter – “It’s her story. Well, the song itself was written all about her story, so the song is about a drug-addicted homeless woman”, Ed told Interview Magazine. Also, Ed Sheeran proved you don’t need a big budget for a hit. The music video for his 2011 song ‘The A Team’ was made for a mere £20! That investment paid off, with the song selling over 58,000 copies in its first week.
6. He Relied on Gigs to Make a Living
When his grant ran out after graduating from music college, Ed was forced to make a living off of his gigs and live shows. He played 312 gigs in 2009!
7. Ed Sheeran Slept on the Streets
Before his rise to fame, Ed struggled to pay his rent, which resulted in him sleeping on the streets, on London Underground trains, or on his friends’ sofas. In fact, he admits to sleeping outside Buckingham Palace for a couple of nights. This is where he gained inspiration for his song, Homeless.
8. Jamie Foxx Helped Launch His Career
In 2009, Ed played more than 300 live shows and gigs in order to make his way into the spotlight. It was in 2010 when he was finally spotted at The Foxxhole by none other than Jamie Foxx. The actor was so impressed with what he saw that he offered Ed the use of his recording studio in L.A, as well as a place to sleep at his Hollywood home. Ed told Howard Stern, “Within a month of going there with zero confidence, being able to fly to L.A. with nothing and ending up in one of the biggest movie stars in the world’s house, recording…in my mind I was like, ‘I must have something.’ So, going back to England, I had this charged-up battery…and started smashing out independent EPs, doing tours all over…”
9. One of His Hobbies is Playing Lego
Other than writing and playing music, Ed Sheeran’s favorite hobby is playing and building Lego. The singer told the Graham Norton Show in 2017 that he “bought the Death Star Lego kit” to celebrate his album going to number one, while he took a Lego set on a date and built it in front of her while they were chatting.
10. Ed Has Over 50 Tattoos
Ed might be the most tattooed celebrity out there with 60 to 100 tats inked on his body. Each of Ed Sheeran’s tattoos holds a personal significance. From tribute tattoos to symbols representing his career milestones, his body art tells a unique story. They include a ketchup bottle, a cup of tea, Pingu (the penguin), Puss in Boots, the phrase ‘Festina Lente’, a family tree, and a section of Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’.
11. Rihanna was supposed to sing ‘SHAPE OF YOU’
Back in 2017, Ed revealed that while writing the song, Rihanna was initially who he envisioned performing it. He even started crafting lyrics with her in mind. However, as the song developed, Ed realized the lyrics might not be the best fit for her style. This shift in perspective led him to keep the song for himself.
12. Ed’s Favorite Karaoke Song Is An Unexpected One
Ed’s favorite karaoke song is not what you would expect. Ed sings Pony by Ginuwine! Maybe soon he will surprise us performing the Magic Mike dance-moves.
13. He Once Hit Justin Bieber
Ed admitted that he once accidentally hit Justin Bieber in the head with a golf club whilst vacationing in Japan. “We were in Japan. (…) We went to a golf course, and he lay on the floor and put a golf ball in his mouth and told me to hit it out of his mouth…I’d cracked Justin Bieber right in the cheek with a golf club.”
Ed Sheeran will perform at the National Arena in Bucharest on August 24, 2024.
Tickets for this special event are STILL available at www.cts.eventim.ro.
