Glen Hansard, the Irish singer-songwriter best known for fronting the Frames and the Swell Season as well as co-starring in the 2007 musical drama Once, has died, according to his management.Hansard died from injuries he suffered in a motorcycle crash in Dublin this morning.
He was 56.A fixture of Ireland’s music scene for decades, Hansard was known for his rousing live performances on acoustic guitar and a voice that could travel far without a microphone.Whether busking on the streets or headlining shows at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, he brought a raw urgency to his music through raspy, strained, and emotional vocal peaks.
With a music career spanning four decades, he was a key figure in his country’s music history, with Ireland’s prime minister Micheál Martin hailing him as “a talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland’s cultural landscape over many years.”Born in Dublin on April 21, 1970, Hansard was raised in a working-class household by an alcoholic father who frequently turned to domestic violence.Hansard learned guitar after his uncle left the instrument behind after being sent to prison, and he immediately took to its expansive range and ability to convey intense emotions.
“My dad was quiet, angry, shut down, so my thing is: I express everything that’s there.I want to get it all out,” he told The New York Times.
Soon enough, Hansard dropped out of school to busk and play in bandsIn 1990, Hansard formed the Frames, a six-piece band that softed the edges of rock and occassionally incorporated folk music.The band became a pivotal part of Ireland’s music scene, with their debut album, 1991’s Another Love Song, coming out on Island before they moved to ZTT for 1995’s Fitzcarraldo and 1999’s Dance the Devil.
By then, the Frames were a beloved staple in their home country, with their next three albums—2001’s For the Birds, 2004’s Burn the Maps, 2006’s The Cost—all soaring t...