Rod Stewart might be 78, but the legendary rocker has no intentions of retiring anytime soon.
The Maggie May singer has hit back at claims he was set to “throw in the towel” after decades performing to spend more time with his family.
They were said to have concerns for Rod’s health after his recent knee surgery and battles with prostate cancer in 2016 and thyroid cancer in 2000.
But the dad-of-eight and grandfather-of-three, who has been married three times, has protested he “loves what he does” and won’t be stopping any time soon.
Last night Rod, famed for his energetic stage performances, kicked off the UK leg of his summer tour in Plymouth.
However, fans were left fuming after the Home Park stadium venue cut him off at 10.30pm a couple of songs before he had finished his set due to their strict curfew.
Later this year, Rod is heading off on the road again with a mammoth tour that will take him to countries including Canada and Brazil before ending on a glittering six night run in Las Vegas.
Asked by People magazine if he had thought about retiring, Rod was adamant he wouldn’t be – saying ‘no’ six times. “I love what he do,” he told the US publication.
But after six decades of performing rock music, Rod revealed he will be making one big change.
When it comes to his music, he plans to relaunch his career as a jazz artist and recently made an album with pianist and music supremo Jools Holland, which he says will be released in 2024.
Speaking about his current tour, he said: “This will the last time round, I think, to do the rock ‘n’ roll stuff because I want to move on to swing music and the Great American Song Book.
“I’m not taking my songs to the cemetery and burying them. I might bring them out on the odd occasion, but I would basically like to put them to rest for a little while. There’s only so many years I want to keep singing Hot Legs or Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?... Rod is now your jazz singer.”
Rod started his career in the 1960s in bands like the Jeff Beck Group and Faces with his long-time pal Ronnie Wood, who went on to form The Rolling Stones.
By the early 1970s Rod had gone solo and has been performing around the globe ever since.
Decades on, he is among the best-selling artists of all time, having sold more than 120 million records.
Recalling his early days on the road, Rod shared he used to travel the length and breadth of Britain in the back of an old van.
These days, he takes private jets and stays in the best hotels as he’s thought to be worth a cool £250 million.
Although he’s one of the original rockers, Rod admits he doesn’t party like he used to anymore.
But he’s definitely not boring, as he revealed: “I’m still a bit of a lad on a Friday and Saturday night. Sunday, I have to rest. I do enjoy a glass of wine every night, and I’ve just had me liver checked, and that’s all OK.”
* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter and Facebook
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033
