Ed: Fans needed a break from me My year’s holiday made them miss me, says star
SUPERSTAR Ed Sheeran has admitted he took a year off because his FANS needed a break from him.
The singer spotted the danger signs two years ago when a new song received a tepid response.
Ed, 25, decided to go backpacking around the world to recharge his own batteries and to give fans a rest too.
The Thinking Out Loud star said: “I remember dropping a song just before I took a year off and it was such a lukewarm reaction.
“It was like, ‘ Here’s a new song,’ and everyone was like, ‘Ugh… cool’. So I have to take a break, but the public also needs a break from me as well.” Ed closed down his social media accounts and went on his travels – but is now thrilled to be back. He said: “You need to miss someone to want them to come back, so I went away, which could have been bad. “It could’ve just resulted in people losing interest but, thankfully, it’s made people more excited.” He admitted the beerbinging backpacker lifestyle actually made him a bigger star – when he piled on three-and-a-half stone. Ed said: “It was going to bars. It was beer. I just ate anything. I ballooned, doubled in size. “I got home and sweat pants were the only thing that fitted and I thought everything had shrunk.”
Ed, originally from Halifax, West Yorks, has shed the excess since returning to work. He’s back in the charts with Shape Of You and has a UK and world tour ahead.
He said: “I have lost like 50 pounds. I cut out beer for a bit and started exercising, which was quite weird.
“I didn’t realise how much I burnt on stage. I jump up and down. I finish and I’m drenched in sweat.”
Ed said working has left him dog tired by the time he gets home – but at least he gets a lift from his two cats.
He added: “They’re the most loving creatures. I’ll wake and I’ll have one over my legs and one on my chest, because they think I’m their mum, because I’ve had them from so young. They like the warmth. I love cats.”