Ed Sheeran delivered a surprise moment for fans in Hamburg by bringing out Wheatus frontman Brendan Brown for a live rendition of the cult classic ‘Teenage Dirtbag’. The unexpected duet took place during Sheeran’s show at the Volksparkstadion in Germany, part of his current European tour.
The collaboration occurred mid-way through the set, following performances of fan favourites ‘Photograph’ and ‘Tenerife Sea’. Addressing the crowd, Sheeran teased a “cool surprise” and shared a personal story about the reunion of his high school band earlier this year. He explained that the band had reformed in April to play a wedding for a close friend—performing, among other tracks, the same song they used to cover as teenagers: ‘Teenage Dirtbag’.
Sheeran then invited his high school band to join him on stage before welcoming Brendan Brown to huge cheers from the audience. Together, they performed the 2000 hit single, creating a nostalgic full-circle moment that Sheeran later described as one of his favourite performances to date.
In a post shared via Instagram, Sheeran reflected on his long-standing connection to the song. He recalled playing ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ with his band at age 12 and said the wedding performance in April rekindled those memories. “We had so much fun playing it,” he wrote that he “cheekily asked Brendan from @wheatusofficial to come over and rock it with us, and being the ledge that he is, he did. One of my fav moments ever on stage, thank you, Brendan. What a night x”.
The original track appeared on Wheatus’ self-titled debut album, released in 2000. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the band has announced a commemorative tour that will see the full album performed live at each show, alongside other fan favourites from their catalogue. The band will be touring internationally before coming to the UK for 16 shows across November and December 2025. Tickets for the tour are currently available and can be accessed here.
Meanwhile, Ed Sheeran continues his run of live shows across Europe and is preparing for a homecoming series of concerts in the UK. He will perform three nights at Ipswich Town Football Club’s Portman Road Stadium from 11–13 July. The performances are expected to be a major event for the town, which has been decorated in pink bunting to mark the occasion. MXDWN’s earlier coverage of the Suffolk towns celebration of Sheeran’s homecoming performances can be read here.
Ed Sheeran’s Hamburg duet with Brendan Brown has already been widely shared across social media, with fans praising the heartfelt tribute to a beloved track that defined a generation.
