At 80, Sir Rod Stewart is proving that rock ‘n’ roll has no expiration date—and he’s not here for your cozy clichés. As he prepares to take over Glastonbury Festival’s legendary Sunday afternoon “Legends” slot, the iconic singer is making it clear: this isn’t about winding down with tea and biscuits.
“I just wish they wouldn’t call it the tea time slot,” Stewart said with a grin in a recent interview. “That sounds like pipe and slippers, doesn’t it?”
No Small Talk, Just Big Hits
True to form, Stewart is shaking things up. He’s stretched his set from 75 to 90 minutes and stripped out all the filler—no lengthy intros or crowd banter, just wall-to-wall music.
“Usually I do over two hours, so there’s still loads we won’t get to,” he explained. “I’ll do one number, shout ‘next,’ and dive straight into the next.”
Expect a powerhouse setlist packed with classics—from “Maggie May” and “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” to “Downtown Train” and “Stay With Me.” It’s a genre-spanning ride through rock, soul, disco, and ballads—all delivered with Rod’s trademark rasp and swagger.
A Return to the Pyramid Stage
This isn’t Stewart’s first Glastonbury rodeo. He last hit the Pyramid Stage in 2002, facing early skepticism from fans who weren’t sure how he’d fit in alongside the likes of Coldplay and The White Stripes. But by the time the crowd belted out “Sailing” in unison, any doubts were long gone.
“I don’t remember a thing,” he joked. “I do so many concerts, they all blend into one.”
From Busker to Global Icon
Rod Stewart’s rise to fame is the stuff of rock legend. Long before the stadiums and chart-toppers, he was just a scrappy harmonica player busking at a train station. That’s where blues singer Long John Baldry first spotted him—half-asleep, slightly drunk, and entirely unforgettable.
“He was walking along platform nine when he saw this pile of rubble with a nose sticking out. That was me,” Stewart recalled.
Inspired by the likes of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, Stewart carved out a voice that’s become one of the most recognizable in music—raw, soulful, and unmistakably his own.
Still Raising the Roof
From setting records with 3 million fans on Rio’s Copacabana Beach in 1994 to headlining Glastonbury in 2025, Stewart isn’t slowing down—he’s stepping it up.
This weekend’s performance promises to be a relentless, hit-packed, no-nonsense celebration of everything that’s made Rod Stewart a legend. And if you’re expecting a quiet, reflective afternoon? Think again.
“I’m not slowing down,” he says. “I’m just skipping the talking and getting on with the music.”
Tea time? More like showtime.
