Rod Stewart, iconic British rock legend, turns 80 with no plans to retire. From his chart-topping hits to his unique voice, his legacy in music remains unparalleled.
Singer Rod Stewart, who helped British rock conquer the world with a string of megahits, turns 80 on Friday — with no plans to slow down. Stewart, with his distinctive spiky blond hair and raspy voice, dominated pop charts during the 1970s and 1980s with hits like Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? and Young Turks, amassing more than 250 million record sales worldwide.
He also made headlines for his prolific love life, which included relationships with models and actresses like Britt Ekland.
Despite his milestone birthday, Stewart has no intention of retiring. "I love what I do, and I do what I love. I'm fit, have a full head of hair, and can run 100 metres (330 feet) in 18 seconds at the jolly old age of 79," he wrote last year.
This summer, the star will perform in the "legends slot" at the famed Glastonbury music festival. While his upcoming European and North American tour dates will mark his last large-scale project, Stewart has expressed plans to focus on more intimate venues in the future.
He is set to headline a new residency in Las Vegas from March to June and plans another tour in 2026 for Swing Fever, the album he released last year with pianist and ex-Squeeze band member Jools Holland.
In his later years, Stewart has also attracted attention for quirkier interests, such as his passion for model railways and his campaign against potholes that prevented him from driving his Ferrari near his home in eastern England.
The singer, knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2016, has been married three times and has eight children. His third wife is model and TV personality Penny Lancaster.
From London to global star
Stewart's story began in north London on January 10, 1945, when Roderick Stewart was born into a middle-class family.
After a "fantastically happy childhood," his passion for music emerged when his father bought him a guitar in 1959. He formed a skiffle band with school friends a year later.
He joined The Dimensions in 1963 as a harmonica player, exploring folk, blues, and soul music. He honed his craft under the influence of artists like Mick Jagger in London’s thriving rhythm and blues scene.
Stewart's career soared in 1967 when he joined guitarist Jeff Beck’s band, which featured future Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood. The experience helped Stewart develop his raw vocal style and stage presence, exposing him to U.S. audiences.
He and Wood later joined mod pioneers Small Faces in 1969, rebranded as The Faces, just as Stewart launched his solo career. His 1971 album, Every Picture Tells a Story, established him as a global sensation, reaching number one in the UK, Australia, and the U.S.
The standout track Maggie May, with its heartfelt lyrics and prominent mandolin, became an anthem of the era. "I just love stories with a beginning, middle, and end," Stewart once said.
"I had the last laugh"
Focusing on his solo career from 1975, Stewart's 1978 hit Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? divided critics.
"Once the most compassionate presence in music, he has become a bilious self-parody — and sells more records than ever," Rolling Stone magazine quipped in 1980.
Unfazed by criticism, Stewart responded that audiences "absolutely love it, so I had the last laugh."
According to Richard Houghton, author of Tell Everyone — A People's History of the Faces, Stewart has "possibly the most distinctive voice in rock music." He combined writing timeless hits like Maggie May with reinventing songs by artists such as Bob Dylan and Tom Waits.
In recent years, Stewart has released four albums from his Great American Songbook series, featuring classic songs of the 1930s.
"Rod will keep singing until the day he drops," Houghton said, adding that Stewart's love for the spotlight ensures his enduring presence on stage.
With AFP
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