Ed Sheeran pays touching tribute to Michael Gudinski with new hand tattoo

Superstar Ed Sheeran has inked a new tattoo for his mentor Michael Gudinski. See how he paid tribute.

Superstar Ed Sheeran has invested in a permanent tribute to his mate and mentor Michael Gudinski — a tattoo of the music legend’s famous “number one” hand signal.

Sheeran and Gudinski’s son, Matt, got inked at Grey Street Tattoo in St Kilda, with matching tributes on their arms.

The tattoos featured the outline of a hand holding up the holding up the “number one” sign with Michael’s initials on the inside.

Gudinski often used the hand signal as his trademark pose in photographs.

Ed and Matt posed for pictures while inside the tattoo parlour on Thursday.

The music superstar has been close with the Gudinskis since 2011.

Sheeran flew to Australia with wife Cherry and daughter Lyra to salute Gudinski, whom he considered a “father figure.”

The inking came a day after Gudinski was honoured at a state memorial by superstars including Sheeran, Kylie Minogue, Bruce Springsteen, Sir Elton John, Billy Joel, Sting, and local performers Jimmy Barnes, Paul Kelly and Mark Seymour.

Gudinski’s family — wife Sue, and children Matt and Kate — are very close to Sheeran, his wife and daughter.

At the state memorial, Matt said: “It means the world that Cherry and Lyra have joined our family.”

Sheeran broke down in tears while performing a new song, Visiting Hours, his tribute to Gudinski, at the event at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday.

Sheeran and Gudinski at the Grey Street Tattoo Parlour. Picture: Media-mode.com

Sheeran is yet to elaborate on the song, but lyrically, it expresses the pain of losing a dear friend, and confidant, as the first-time dad considers the road ahead without one of his best mates.

The song says: “I wish that heaven had visiting hours, so I could just show, and bring the news, that she’s getting older, and I wish that you’d met her, the things that she’ll learn from me, I got them all from you.”

Gudinski, who promoted Sheeran’s record-breaking concerts, never net Lyra in person. She was born last year, during COVID-19 border closures.

The Gudinski tribute tattoo. Picture: Instagram

The song continues: “Well, I wish that heaven had visiting hours, so I could just swing by and ask your advice, what would you do in my situation, I haven’t a clue how I’d even raise them

what would you do, because you always do what’s right.”

In a recent Instagram post, Sheeran said of Gudinski: “We were, first and foremost, friends. He was a father figure and mentor to me. We had late night, early morning talks, all over the world.”

The song concludes: “I wish that heaven had visiting hours, then I would ask them if I could take you home, but I know what they’d say, it’s for the best, I would live life the way you taught me, and make it on my own.

Sheeran got his tattoo on his forearm while Gudinski had his ink put on his bicep. Picture: Media-mode.com

“I will close the door, but I will open up my heart, everyone I know will know exactly who you are, this is not goodbye, it’s just till we meet again, so much has changed since you’ve been away.”

Sheeran echoed those feelings on social media recently, saying: “I will make sure I keep sharing all of my amazing stories I have of (Gudinski.)”

Mickey Maher, head of music at Hit and Triple M networks, said radio is ready to put Visiting Hours on high rotation if Sheeran releases it.

“Ed has mastered the art of writing music that deeply connects with people. There is no question if Ed chose to make Visiting Hours available to play on radio, buy or stream, Melburnians and Australians would get behind the song,” Mr Maher said.