U2's Longtime Tour Manager Found Dead At West Hollywood Hotel
WEST HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — U2's longtime tour manager Dennis Sheehan was found dead at a West Hollywood hotel Wednesday.
The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office received a call around 7 a.m. about an unconscious man in his mid-60s at the Sunset Marquis Hotel.
"With profound sadness we confirm that Dennis Sheehan, U2's longstanding tour manager and dear friend to us all, has passed away overnight. Our heartfelt sympathy is with his wonderful family," said Arthur Fogel, CEO Global Touring and Chairman Global Music Live Nation Global Touring.
"We've lost a family member, we're still taking it in," Bono stated on U2's website. "He wasn't just a legend in the music business, he was a legend in our band. He is irreplaceable."
The Irish rock band, which Sheehan had worked for more than 30 years, kicked off a week-long series of shows in the Southland Tuesday night at The Forum in Inglewood.
The band was scheduled to perform at The Forum again Wednesday night and The Roxy on the Sunset Strip Thursday. The band's tour promoter has confirmed the show will go on, stating: "Dennis always got the band on stage, pretty much on time. We're going to make sure we do that tonight, in his memory. It is absolutely what he would have wanted."
Outside The Forum, Redlands resident Monica Yanez and her friends from Sweden and Scotland were eagerly awaiting seeing the band take the stage.
"I think it'll be a little bit of a celebration of life," Yanez said.
Cassandra Orcula, of Sweden, has a Joshua Tree tattoo to commemorate one of the band's biggest albums.
She says she is expecting Wednesday night's show will be somewhat somber.
"It's not going to interrupt my joy, absolutely not. It's probably going to be emotional," Orcula said.
The Coroner's office said the case was being investigated as a natural death.