Sydney, Australia – Ed Sheeran captivated a crowd of 70,000 fans at Accor Stadium on Friday night as he launched the Australian leg of his Loop Tour. Beyond the hits – including “Castle on the Hill,” “Shape of You,” and “Perfect” – the performance offered a rare glimpse into a deeply personal chapter of Sheeran’s life: his protracted legal battle over copyright infringement. The singer-songwriter opened up about the emotional toll of the case, revealing how a court-ordered handover of his personal devices unexpectedly inspired a new song and unearthed long-forgotten memories.
The lawsuit, which began in 2015 and alleged that Sheeran’s 2014 single “Thinking Out Loud” copied elements of Marvin Gaye’s 1973 classic “Let’s Get It On,” concluded in 2023 with a New York jury finding in Sheeran’s favor. However, the process of defending himself proved unexpectedly revealing. Sheeran shared with the Sydney audience that complying with the court’s request to examine his electronic devices led to a surprising rediscovery of his past.
“In the last 10 years, if you have seen my name in the news it might be related to a lawsuit – a copyright lawsuit in 2015,” Sheeran reportedly said, according to Billboard. “I got sued for a song by someone else that had said I had stolen their song, and the only thing I could do in that situation, because I hadn’t done it, was take it to court and prove that I hadn’t done it.” The legal proceedings required him to surrender his phones and computers for forensic analysis, a step he initially dreaded.
A Digital Time Capsule
Sheeran recounted a surprising outcome of the device search: a reconnection with a simpler time. He revealed that he hadn’t owned a mobile phone since the lawsuit began, having abandoned one during a 2015 tour of Australia. That phone, rediscovered during the legal process, became a portal to the past.
“I did a tour down here [in Australia] for Multiply in 2015 and I remember at the end of that tour, I switched that phone off and going, ‘I do not want to use a mobile phone again,’” he explained to the crowd. “I moved to email and I’ve used email since then.” Powering the device back on after years of dormancy proved to be a deeply emotional experience.
“I opened it again for this lawsuit and I switched it on to head through the emails and text messages and that sort of stuff and it was like going through a time machine to right back to 2015,” Sheeran said. “But not only back to 2015 but to 2007, when I started texting on this number.” He described feeling “frozen in time” as he revisited old conversations with friends who had passed away and family members he hadn’t spoken to in years.
From Legal Battle to Songwriting Inspiration
The emotional weight of revisiting his digital history ultimately fueled his creativity. Sheeran explained that the experience directly inspired “Old Phone,” a track from his 2025 album, Play, which he performed during the Sydney concert. The song serves as a testament to his belief that even negative experiences can be transformed into art.
“I uncover whenever anything negative happens in my life, I write a song about it and it somehow makes sense of that bad thing that’s happened. And it as well works with something good that happens in my life – I write a song about it,” he told the audience. “Any song you hear of mine is basically like two-minute extremities. Either I feel a lot of this or I feel a lot of this … I find when the bad days happen, good songs reach from it.”
A Longstanding Connection with Australian Fans
Beyond the personal revelations, Sheeran also took time to express his gratitude for the unwavering support of his Australian fanbase. He recalled that Australia was among the first countries outside the United Kingdom to embrace his music, a connection he clearly cherishes.
“This is why I love coming back to Australia. When I first came here when I was like 19 or 20, the crowds have always been nuts,” he said. “No matter the occasion, no matter the day, the crowd has always been nuts.” He added, “Sydney, it feels amazing to be back. If you haven’t lost your voice tomorrow, I haven’t done my job.” He emphasized that Australia holds a special place in his career, noting it was the first country outside the UK where he achieved chart success.
Sheeran is scheduled to perform two more shows in Sydney before continuing the Australian leg of his tour in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Fans can find information about remaining tickets and tour dates on his official website.
The singer’s willingness to share such a personal story underscores the profound impact legal battles can have on artists, and the power of creativity to transform adversity into something meaningful. As Sheeran continues his tour, the echoes of his legal struggles – and the song they inspired – will undoubtedly resonate with audiences across Australia.
What did you think of Ed Sheeran’s performance? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and be sure to share this article with fellow music fans!
