Legendary singer-songwriter Bryan Adams is about to start his Australian tour (including Wollongong) after an emotional week.
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The Straight from the Heart singer was in New Zealand during last Friday's shooting massacre, and subsequently played one of the most difficult shows of his career.
Adams cancelled his Sunday concert scheduled for Christchurch "in solidarity with the victims", but continued with his appearance in Nelson on the Saturday.
"Everyone has been incredibly emotional about it, I mean, how could you not be," he told the Illawarra Mercury.
"It was the one of the hardest gigs I've ever done in my life because you have to address it, you have to play something.
"I dedicated Shine a Light to everybody and suddenly the whole field lit up with lighters."
The song is Adams' latest single co-written with Ed Sheeran, and the name of his 14th studio album released this month.
The pair had both been playing in Dublin on the same weekend, and Adam approached him about this "idea" he had for a song.
He recently told London newspaper the Evening Standard that Shine A Light was an uplifting tribute to his parents. Adams' father passed away last year around the time his mother became seriously ill.
It was the one of the hardest gigs I've ever done in my life because you have to address it, you have to play something. I dedicated Shine a Light to everybody.
- Bryan Adams
The new album also has a pop collaboration with Jennifer Lopez titled That's How Strong Our Love Is.
Collaborations are nothing new for the Canadian who has previously worked with Barbra Streisand, Spicegirl Melanie Chisholm and the electronic dance producer Chicane.
He has also co-written a mass of songs such as the heavy rock War Machine for Kiss in 1982, Glitter for Motley Crue in 1997 and the songs to the Broadway production of Pretty Woman: The Musical.
After playing in Melbourne on Thursday, Adams will perform to fans at the WIN Entertainment Centre in the heart of Wollongong on Friday.
The tour continues with performances in Sydney, as well as at A Day On The Green in the Hunter Valley and in Perth.
Tickets for the Wollongong show are still on sale through Ticketmaster.