PEARL Jam singer Eddie Vedder plugged in his electric guitar to give Glen Hansard a rocking send-off after his funeral – with his nieces also taking to the stage for a farewell song.
The gig came just hours after The Frames singer was laid to rest following his funeral service at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.
Musicians gathered at Vicar Street in what was billed as ‘Glen Hansard’s Celebration of Life’.
Highlights of the night included Eddie, 61, leading a cover of Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World, backed by The Frames and Imelda May.
One eyewitness said: “It was a powerful communal performance, a fitting celebration of Glen’s extraordinary life, music and friendships he inspired.”
Many in the audience were members of ‘The Framily’, Frames fans across the US and Germany who had travelled to Dublin to pay their respects to the singer who lost his life in a motorbike crash last week.
They were impressed by the Pearl Jam vocalist as the frontman of Glen’s much-loved band.
One fan remarked: “If The Frames ever play again, Eddie needs to be their honorary lead singer.”
The US musician also jammed with Jake Clemons — the saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band — in front of a giant screen which showed pictures of Glen throughout his career.
Hothouse Flowers singer Liam O’Maonlai, Commitments singer Bronagh Gallagher and Mundy were among other performers during the evening, which included Glen’s two nieces Amy and Sinead.
His niece Amy shared clips from the emotional event, including footage of herself singing onstage with Sinead.
In a social media caption accompanying the performance clip, she wrote: “It was always a privilege and honour to perform with you Glen, doing it without you on the Vicar stage just didn’t feel real, it will never be the same again.
“I love you and I will miss you and you got the most amazing celebration.
“This gift will last forever.”
West Side Story star Rachel Zegler, who had earlier joined the group performing Forever Young as Hansard’s funeral concluded, was also in attendance at the Vicar Street gathering.
She said: “Leaving a piece of my heart in Dublin with my friend Glen.”
Fans were also overjoyed to see Glen’s co-Oscar winner Marketa Irglova with a grin on her face enjoying the night.
An insider told The Irish Sun: “It really rocked and was the perfect way to end the night and celebrate Glen’s life. The sound was just perfect and everybody just plugged in and performed.”
Earlier Marketa had joined Vedder as he sang Glen’s song The Song of Good Hope at St Patrick’s Cathedral.
There was more music from Irish crooner Damien Dempsey and indie band Cronin, whose members, brothers Mick and Johnny, organised all the performers on the night and acted as the house band.
One source told The Irish Sun: “Glen organised all the music for the funeral of Shane MacGowan, and Mick and Johnny were best pals of Shane and recorded with him. So they wanted to do as good a job for Glen who was also a great friend. They really did a fantastic job.”
Bono was not among the night’s performers or attendees after his spoken word performance of U2 song Beautiful Day at the funeral.
However he was spotted with his arm in a sling which might have ruled him out of any stage tribute in Vicar Street.
Friends and fans bid farewell to Glen at an emotional service at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin city centre on Tuesday afternoon, which was followed by a private cremation attended just by family.
The star, 56, died tragically in a motorbike accident on the Lower Road in the Strawberry Beds, west Dublin in the early hours of Wednesday, July 29, having earlier played at a weekly trad session in The Wren’s Nest pub.