Remember The Name And These Facts: Ed Sheeran’s Rise To Super Stardom

Staff | August 5, 2019 4:41 pm

Ed Sheeran has been recording music since 2004, starting as an independent artist, when he released his first collection, Spinning Man. In 2008, at just 16-years-old, Sheeran moved to London where he started playing hundreds of shows every year in front of small crowds. Fast forward to 2019 and it's now nearly impossible to escape the superstar singers music.

From "Perfect" and "A-Team" to "Shape of You" and the newly released, "Remember My Name" which features a collaborative effort with Eminem and 50 Cent, Sheeran has proven he can transcend genres, gain mass appeal, and conquer the music world. Let's take a deep dive into some of the most interesting, fun, and quirky facts about Ed Sheeran, starting with his record-breaking tour that just toppled U2.

The Highest Grossing Tour Of All Time!

GettyImages-481138860
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

On August 2, 2019, Ed Sheeran's "Divide" tour became the highest-grossing tour of all time. Starting on March 16, 2017, the tour will wrap up on August 26, 2019. Ticket sales according to Pollstar have already topped $736.7 million, just north of U2's $735.4 million which was achieved in 2011.

The 28-year-old British crooner accomplished his feat by playing 893 days, far surpassing the 760 shows performed by U2. Sheeran has also set an attendance record with 7.3 million tickets sold.

ADVERTISEMENT

Scalpers Beware: Sheeran Has Technology To Fight Your Ticket Buys

ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-931553962
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for NARAS
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for NARAS
ADVERTISEMENT

One of the most alluring aspects of Ed Sheeran's shows is his fight to stop ticket scalping. The commonplace practice has caused prices to become inflated in recent years. Sheeran's team has developed technology that allows them to fight scalped tickets which are then revoked with money being returned to his fans.

ADVERTISEMENT

His team will even work to help those fans repurchase their tickets at a standard fixed-rate that saves his fans money. By implementing cutting edge technology, Sheeran has been able to sell his tickets for prices as low as $80.90, well below the industry average. This is important since many of Sheeran's fans include families who purchase tickets in bulk.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ed Sheeran Is A Prolific Songwriter For Other Artists

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-884514298
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for iHeartMedia
Gareth Cattermole/TAS/Getty Images for TAS
ADVERTISEMENT

We know and love Ed Sheeran for such hits as Perfect, A-Team, Shape Of You, and Galway Girl but did you know he's also one of the industry's hottest music writers for other artists? Justin Bieber's hit song Love Yourself is a Sheeran original that he originally wrote for Rihanna but she passed on the song.

ADVERTISEMENT

He also wrote 18 and Little Things for One Direction and has penned hits for the likes of Rita Ora (Your Song), The Weeknd (Dark Times), and he wrote Everything Has Changed for Taylor Swift, a song they recorded together. So far he has racked up 18 hits for other musicians.

ADVERTISEMENT

He's Developing A Real Estate Empire

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-814572736
Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Ed Sheeran has proven himself to be an amazing performer and songwriter but he's also been branching out into the world of real estate. In recent years, Sheeran has been purchasing various properties around England. Sheeran has spent more than $51 million purchasing 18 flats and houses in Suffolk and London.

ADVERTISEMENT

The famed singer also purchased a restaurant in Notting Hill which he plans to turn into a hotspot. His purchase of the Galicia tapas bar on Portobello Road cost a cool $1.82 million on its own.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sheeran Bought Homes Around His Own To Avoid Noise Complaints

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-923547334
Matthias Nareyek/Getty Images
Matthias Nareyek/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The 28-year-old singer has an interesting way of dealing with noise complaints from his neighbors. Instead of turning the dial down a few notches, Sheeran buys their homes at above industry prices in the town of Framlingham, Suffolk.Sheeran has reportedly spent almost $5 million acquiring the houses adjacent to his own.

ADVERTISEMENT

He went a step further and also purchased the apartment that was located above his recently acquired Notting Hill restaurant, ensuring no noise complaints would be filed against him. So far Sheeran has bought four homes located next to his own, building what locals call a "mini village" of his very own.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Game Of Thrones Cast Heard His Album Before It Was Released

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Ed Sheeran Game of Thrones
HBO
HBO
ADVERTISEMENT

Ed Sheeran made a guest appearance in the HBO hit Game of Thrones and he used the experience to debut his new album for some of the show's famous cast members. After fulfilling his cameo obligation for the TV series, Sheeran realized a lot of the show's stars were attending a wrap party.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sheeran invited the show's stars to his house where he debuted many of the songs that would be featured on his mega-hit ÷ album

ADVERTISEMENT

Sheeran Almost Changed His Name!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-481139012
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

It's no secret that Ed Sheeran has celebrated his family's history on his songs. He's proud of where he comes from but that almost didn't stop him from changing his name!Sheeran, a huge Game of Thrones fan, almost changed his name to "Redward."

ADVERTISEMENT

We don't think "Redward Sheeran" has the same ring to it. Although, the name does sound like a Game of Thrones worthy name for the pop star.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sheeran Stopped Using His Phone For An Entire Year

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-459088134
John Phillips/Getty Images for Ed Sheeran
John Phillips/Getty Images for Ed Sheeran
ADVERTISEMENT

In an attempt to simplify this life, Ed Sheeran made the decision to ditch his phone for an entire year while he was traveling for shows. Sheeran, not a big fan of social media, appeared on Ellen and explained his decision to only answer emails for a year.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I got rid of my phone as my New Year's resolution," Ed explained to Ellen DeGeneres. "I bought an iPad, and then I just work off of email, and it's so much less stress. I don't wake up in the morning and have to answer 50 messages of people asking for stuff. It's just like, I wake up and have a cup of tea."

ADVERTISEMENT

He Reached #2 On iTunes Without Signing To A Label

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-922443292
Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

In 2011, Ed Sheeran released his EP No. 5 Collaborations Project. Sheeran was still an unsigned artist working on his own terms but that didn't stop his album from nearly topping the iTunes download chart! Sheeran's EP managed to reach #2 with iTunes and established him as a serious musician.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sheeran eventually signed with Asylum records. The singer has now sold more than 125 million albums worldwide, making him one of the best selling musicians of all time!

ADVERTISEMENT

Ed Sheeran Married His High School Sweetheart

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-949564232
Stephen Pond/Getty Images
Stephen Pond/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Ed Sheeran is now one of the biggest stars on the planet. His wife, on the other hand, works for business consulting firm Deloitte. If the pairing seems strange, it was actually a love match that was made many years ago.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cherry Seaborn is Ed Sheeran's high school sweetheart. The pair reunited several years ago and then married in secret in Suffolk, England in late 2018. The couple chose to exclude their famous friends and married in a small "no fuss" wedding right before Christmas. Sheeran says the small ceremony was meant to be "something entirely for them."

ADVERTISEMENT

Sheeran Built His Reputation As A Prolific Performer

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-809801364
James Devaney/GC Images
James Devaney/GC Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Ed Sheeran moved to London at the age of 16, two years after he released his EP. Sheeran was a rising star in the city thanks to a prolific performance schedule that rivals almost any musician we've ever reported on. In 2009, in an attempt to get his name into the mainstream, Sheeran performed 300 lives shows.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sheeran, on his hit song "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" sings, "I've done around about a thousand shows. But I haven't got a house plus I live on the couch."

ADVERTISEMENT

Ed Sheeran Is A Philanthropist

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-922466084
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Ed Sheeran doesn't just earn a lot of money, he also puts his cash to good use. Sheeran has donated his own cash to various causes and he's held performances with the goal of raising a lot of money to help those in need.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sheeran goes so far as to donate his own clothes to various organizations that help clothe people in need. The singer has also worked with the No Cold Homes campaign which ensures poor people are able to keep their homes warm during the winter months. Among his regular donations is help for the Elizabeth Hospice in his hometown of Framlingham, Suffolk.

ADVERTISEMENT

All Of Ed Sheeran's Guitars Have Names

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-937241252
Phil Walter/Getty Images
Phil Walter/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Ed Sheeran likes to personalize his performances in various ways, including the naming of all of his guitars. If you've seen him perform you've likely witnessed his guitar chops with the likes of Lloyd, Felix, Cyril, and Nigel.

ADVERTISEMENT

While his guitar collection has almost certainly grown over the years, those four guitars have been touring with Ed Sheeran for more than 10 years. At this point they deserve names, they are practically family!

ADVERTISEMENT

Many Of His Songs Are Deeply Personal And Based On His Life Experiences

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-463012110
Christopher Polk/WireImage
Christopher Polk/WireImage
ADVERTISEMENT

Ed Sheeran is an amazing lyricist and he owes much of his success as a songwriter to his decision to focus on real-life events. Sheeran wrote "Small Bump" for a friend who lost their unborn child.

ADVERTISEMENT

When asked about A-Team, Sheeran said, “I did a gig at a homeless shelter, and it was about one of the women there. It’s her story. Well, the song itself was written all about her story, so the song is about a drug-addicted homeless woman." It's also believed that Sheeran wrote "On My Mind" about Ellie Goulding after she allegedly cheated on him with One Direction singer Niall Horan. Goulding has denied the rumor.

ADVERTISEMENT

Taylor Swift Gave Sheeran His Big Break

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-510506808
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
ADVERTISEMENT

Taylor Swift may not have discovered Ed Sheeran, who had been performing all over England for years but she certainly gave the singer his big break. In March 2012 the famous American singer was touring in Australia when she discovered Sheeran's music. Taylor reached out to Sheeran and asked him to open for her highly-touted "Red" tour.

ADVERTISEMENT

While on the road the pair wrote "Everything Has Changed" and by 2014 Sheeran was nominated for a Grammy for Album of the year. It appears that in 2019 both Sheeran and Swift remain very good friends.

ADVERTISEMENT

Music Is A Family Trait For The Sheeran Clan

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-161600141
Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

While Ed Sheeran has amassed millions of fans all over the world, he isn't the only family member in the Sheeran family who has pursued a career in music, Sheeran's older brother is a classical music composer.

ADVERTISEMENT

Matthew has taken his classical training to the mainstream, reworking music such as Stormzy’s 'Blinded by Your Grace’ and Ed Sheeran’s ‘Perfect." Matthew Sheeran has also created scores for the promotion of Oscar-winning film The Shape of Water and the hit Russian series, Viking.

ADVERTISEMENT

He Might Be 'The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air's' Biggest Fan

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-152723504
Bill McCay/WireImage
Bill McCay/WireImage
ADVERTISEMENT

Will Smith and the rest of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast might have their biggest fan in Ed Sheeran. How much does he love the classic TV series? Sheeran has a tattoo on his arm that reads, "Prince."

ADVERTISEMENT

Sheeran was visiting Philadelphia in 2013 while touring with his friends from Rizzle Kicks. Ed got "Prince" tattooed on his arm while Jordan had the word "Fresh" tattooed on his leg. Harley opted for the longer phrase, "on the playground where I spent most of my days."

ADVERTISEMENT

Sheeran Is An Amateur Tattoo Artist

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-176203084
Kevin Mazur/Fox/WireImage
Kevin Mazur/Fox/WireImage
ADVERTISEMENT

It's well known that Ed Sheeran has a ton of tattoos but he's also an amateur tattoo artist. In fact, Sheeran gave Harry Styles a tattoo of a padlock and it turns out looking pretty good for someone who doesn't tattoo people full-time.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sheeran not only loves to tattoo people, but he was also taught how to accomplish the task by artist legend Kevin Paul. It was actually Paul's equipment that Sheeran used to give Harry Styles his tattoo. Ed and Harry have matching Pingu tattoos because they both love the show.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ed Sheeran Has A Big Mouth But He's Not Mouthy

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-923478172
Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images
Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Ed Sheeran is an accomplished musician but that's not all he can do. Look up old videos of Sheeran as a kid and you'll find him showing off some pretty funny feats of food consumption.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sheeran can fit a whole red apple in his mouth. He has also consumed 37 gummi bears at one time and 23 marshmallows. None of those food feats would earn him the type of fame he has today but we give him mad props for discovering this weird talent and then sharing it with the world.

ADVERTISEMENT

He Was Mistaken For Being Harry Potter's Rupert Grint And Played Off It

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-132206279
D Dipasupil/FilmMagic
D Dipasupil/FilmMagic
ADVERTISEMENT

Ed Sheeran was once mistaken for Rupert Grint and rather than crushing a fan's heart he went along with the case of mistaken identity. Not only that, he ended up hiring Rupert Grint to appear in a music video.

ADVERTISEMENT

If you watch the music video for Sheeran's song "Lego House" you'll find Rupert Grint front and center for most of the music video. We're glad to know Sheeran has maintained his sense of humor as he's grown into one of the biggest music talents on the planet.