Bob Geldof and Hozier to Perform in Van Morrison 75th Birthday Tribute

Van Morrison performs at the BBK Music Legends festival in Sondika, near Bilbao, northern Spain, June 2, 2017. (Reuters)
Van Morrison performs at the BBK Music Legends festival in Sondika, near Bilbao, northern Spain, June 2, 2017. (Reuters)
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Bob Geldof and Hozier to Perform in Van Morrison 75th Birthday Tribute

Van Morrison performs at the BBK Music Legends festival in Sondika, near Bilbao, northern Spain, June 2, 2017. (Reuters)
Van Morrison performs at the BBK Music Legends festival in Sondika, near Bilbao, northern Spain, June 2, 2017. (Reuters)

Irish music stars Bob Geldof, Hozier and Paul Casey as well as Ireland’s President Michael Higgins will be among those taking part in a special music tribute next week to celebrate Van Morrison’s 75th birthday.

In celebration of the life and music of Belfast-born Morrison, who began his career with the band Them and rose to fame as a solo artist with his 1967 hit “Brown Eyed Girl”, organizers HotPress have asked 75 Irish artists to record videos of his songs, premiering them nightly on YouTube for the last three weeks until Sept. 15.

In a special event on Aug. 31, performances to be broadcast include Higgins playing “Rave On, John Donne” alongside composer Bill Whelan, Paul Casey & Friends featuring Terri Hooley who will play “In The Days Before Rock ‘n’ Roll”, and Mary Coughlan who will perform “Warm Love”.

Geldof said he had chosen the song “I’m Tired Joey Boy”.

“That attitude that emanates from those records, that attitude that Van still has of dislocation, of being at an angle always to both contemporary music and society, is really interesting to observe, as a person,” Geldof said.

“But to hear it in the music is constantly interesting, which is why he, probably uniquely amongst his contemporaries, is still deeply relevant.”

Morrison, whose album “Astral Weeks” is often cited as one of rock music’s greatest achievements, said he was surprised to still be performing at his age, saying his successes had at times seemed fragile. “Quite frankly, I didn’t actually think that I’d still be singing now,” he said.

“In the old days, you were always told by the management companies and everybody that it wasn’t gonna last ... you didn’t really know, it was all very touch and go.”

The veteran musician, who still sells out major venues with his soulful blend of blues, jazz and Celtic music, has a reputation for being cantankerous.

In comments on his website this week, Morrison called on music professionals to support him in a bid to get the industry back on its feet during the pandemic, saying socially distanced gigs were not sustainable and concerts had to return to full capacity audiences.

“I call on my fellow singers, musicians, writers, producers, promoters and others in the industry to fight with me on this,” he wrote. “Come forward, stand up, fight the pseudo-science and speak up.”



Olivia Rodrigo, John Cena and Other Celebrities Make Their Way to Wimbledon’s Royal Box

Singer Olivia Rodrigo, left, Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley, center, and wrestler John Cena sit in the Royal Box at Centre Court during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP)
Singer Olivia Rodrigo, left, Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley, center, and wrestler John Cena sit in the Royal Box at Centre Court during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP)
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Olivia Rodrigo, John Cena and Other Celebrities Make Their Way to Wimbledon’s Royal Box

Singer Olivia Rodrigo, left, Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley, center, and wrestler John Cena sit in the Royal Box at Centre Court during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP)
Singer Olivia Rodrigo, left, Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley, center, and wrestler John Cena sit in the Royal Box at Centre Court during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP)

Olivia Rodrigo. John Cena. Dave Grohl. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas. There was as much star power - or maybe even more? - in the Royal Box at Wimbledon as there was down below on the Centre Court grass on Wednesday.

And that was on an afternoon that featured two-time defending men's champion Carlos Alcaraz, No. 1-ranked woman Aryna Sabalenka, and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu of Britain all winning matches at the grasscourt Grand Slam tournament's main stadium to reach the third round.

"It's so special in the Royal Box to have those kind of people in there. It definitely adds a bit of pressure, I guess, if you look up and you kind of recognize (them)," Raducanu said. "That's why I try and stay with my eyes on the court as much as possible. Only after, you kind of look up and take it all in, if they're still there."

The seats in the Royal Box behind one of the baselines are by invitation only, and there was quite a list of celebrities on hand for Day 3 of competition.

"I was trying not to look today," Sabalenka said about the collection of boldfaced names, explaining that she might be distracted while competing. "I was just trying to focus on my game. Later on, I'm going to open the social media (and ask), 'OK, who was there?'"

Well, Aryna, here's a rundown:

Rodrigo, fresh off headlining at music festival Glastonbury while on tour for her GUTS album, sat next to Cena, the professional wrestler and movie star. Rodrigo chatted at one point with former England soccer coach Roy Hodgson (the current person in that job, Thomas Tuchel, also was in attendance).

Grohl, a member of the rock bands Foo Fighters and Nirvana, made an appearance, too, as did the married couple Chopra and Jonas. Hollywood's Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, who also are married, were on the Royal Box list, along with actor Dominic Cooper.

Others taking in a day of tennis at the most famous court in the world included British athletes from other sports, such as Olympic gold medalists Sophie Bray (field hockey) and Tom Daley (diving), and Paralympic gold medalist William Ellard (swimming).

Oh, and there was actual British royalty there Wednesday: Princess Michael of Kent.