Sheeran 's earliest memories include listening to the records of Joni Mitchell , Bob Dylan and Elton John 's '' Greatest Hits '' . According to Sheeran , the album that introduced him to music was Van Morrison 's '' Irish Heartbeat '' . During his childhood his father took him to live concerts that would inspire his musical creations . These included seeing Eric Clapton at the Royal Albert Hall , Paul McCartney in Birmingham , and Bob Dylan . On the influence of Clapton , Sheeran states , " He 's the reason I started playing guitar " . He singled out Clapton 's performance at the Party at the Palace in the grounds of Buckingham Palace , " I was eleven when I saw Eric Clapton play at the Queen 's Golden Jubilee concert in June 2002 . I remember him walking on stage with this rainbow-coloured Stratocaster and playing the first riff of " Layla " . I was hooked . Two days later I bought a black Stratocaster copy for £ 30 that came with an amp . All I did for the next month was try to play that Layla riff . " He has also cited The Beatles , Nizlopi and Eminem as his biggest musical influences . According to Sheeran , he had a stutter in his speech when he was younger , and he credited rapping along to Eminem 's '' The Marshall Mathers LP '' for helping him get rid of it . He was also inspired by " Cannonball " singer-songwriter Damien Rice in 2002 , with Sheeran stating , " seeing him play this small club in Ireland , I was able to meet him , and he was unbelievably cool . I went straight home and started writing songs . I would not be doing what I 'm doing now if he 'd been a jerk . " He also played the guitar to Westlife 's Greatest hits album when he was ten , citing them as one of his influences . Sheeran collaborated with his idol Eric Clapton in April 2016 , with Sheeran stating to '' People '' magazine , " I sang on Eric Clapton 's album '' I Still Do '' . It 's one thing having him on mine , but being his , that 's an honour that you ca n't ever pinpoint on how great that is . I did something for his record , and I was credited as ' Angelo Mysterioso , ' appearing as a guest on Clapton 's " I Will Be There " , in addition to performing the song with Clapton on stage , and he did something for my record performing a guitar solo on " Dive " on Sheeran 's album '' ÷ '' and was credited as ' Angelo Mysterioso . ' " In March 2015 , Sheeran announced he was setting up a record label , Gingerbread Man Records , which is a deal with Warner Music Group . The label was launched in August 2015 alongside its accompanying YouTube channel . Jamie Lawson , the label 's first signee , met Sheeran while they were both in London 's folk circuit . Lawson released his self-titled debut album on 9 October 2015 , which has earned him a number one in the UK Albums Chart . Sheeran signed his second artist , Foy Vance , in November 2015
Party at the Palace
Party at the Palace
Ed Sheeran