Ed Sheeran visits Michael Gudinski statue after arriving in Melbourne

Music superstar Ed Sheeran has visited Melbourne Park and made a toast to his mate and mentor Michael Gudinski.

Superstar Ed Sheeran has visited the statue of late music industry boss and his mate and mentor, Michael Gudinski, after arriving in Melbourne.

Sheeran paid his respects at the memorial, alongside Gudinski’s son, Mushroom Group boss Matt Gudinski, at Melbourne Park on Monday.

The pair raised two glasses of Michael Gudinski’s favourite wine, Penfolds 707, as a tribute.

The Bad Habits hitmaker regarded Gudinski as father figure, close confidant and a “tornado of joy”. The pair developed a tight-knit bond over the span of several tours.

Sheeran and Matt Gudinski raise a toast with Penfolds wine.

“He was in my tour insurance that basically if anything ever happened to him, I could cancel as many gigs as possible and go and be with his family,” he said.

Sheeran did exactly that when Gudinski passed away two years ago, and rushed to Melbourne to be with Michael’s wife, Sue, and children, Matt and Kate.

He also wrote and released a song, Visiting Hours, dedicated to Gudinski. “I wish that heaven had visiting hours, And I would ask them if I could take you home,” the song says.

Gudinski, a larger than life dynamo, inspired the massive scale of Sheeran’s latest tour, which plays at the MCG on Thursday and Friday.

“Michael said, ‘We’ll do the MCG next time and it has to be in the round,” Sheeran said, recalling the tour plan they hatched together five years ago. “I remember being like, ‘Oh, I’ve never really played in the round and I don’t really wanna take a risk.”

Sheeran posted on Instagram: “Toasting a 707 to the big man ahead of playing the biggest ticketed shows ever in Australian history this weekend.

“We miss you, you finally got me playing MCG in the round.”

Sheeran has sold 105,000 tickets to his March 2 show at the MCG.

Sheeran heads to Chapel St

Ed Sheeran. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Russell Crowe out; Ed Sheeran in.

While the big name Aussie actor was banned from dining at Mr Miyagi last week, on Sunday night superstar singer Sheeran was seen in Melbourne for the first time in a private booth with friends at the Chapel St restaurant.

Last week Crowe, his girlfriend Britney Theriot and their guests were turned away by staff, saying their “slobby gym gear” attire didn’t hold up to the eatery’s high standards.

Sheeran, who is here ahead of two shows at the MCG on Thursday and Friday night, dined with two other people and walked in at 8.30pm.

His tour so far in Brisbane and Sydney has seen sold out crowds.

“Ed and his group were amazing guests to have, super friendly to everyone and Miyagi hopes he comes back again soon for another taco,’’ a source from Mr Miyagi said.

Meanwhile more visiting popstars have played a round of golf in Melbourne with members of the Backstreet Boys teeing off at Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club in Point Cook.

Nick Carter, Brian Littrell and AJ McLean from the Backstreet Boys at Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club.

Three singers of the band — Nick Carter, Brian Littrell and AJ McLean — arrived at the golf course about 9.30am on Monday and left in the afternoon about 2.30pm.

A club worker said they spent a fortune at the pro shop, buying caps and jumpers and T-shirts.

They said they love playing golf and did their research before deciding to go there.

The Backstreet Boys are performing at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday and Wednesday night.