Rod Stewart’s 90-minute set at Worthy Farm on Sunday is said to have cost the rocker £300,000, and he will get another epic Glastonbury Festival performance.
As backstage requests go, it’s usually all about the booze, drugs and girls for most rockers. But not so for Sir Rod Stewart.
Taking to the Pyramid stage on Sunday afternoon at Glastonbury for the coveted Legends slot, the star is adopting a slightly less rock ‘n roll approach. In fact, the 80-year-old is taking his trusted personal trainer with him to Worthy Farm to ensure he is in tip-top shape for the show.
With an estimated 100,000 watching him at Worthy Farm – and millions more on the TV – the rocker knows the stakes are high. Especially so after suffering a bad bout of flu which saw him cancel a string of shows in Las Vegas.
According to insiders, Rod has exerted great effort, with one declaring, “He is fully-fit and ready to go.” It was a no-brainer to have them at the festival because his trainer does amazing things.
The actor went to great lengths to make sure the show runs smoothly. The star has been taking vocal rest to make sure his raspy voice is firing on all cylinders, despite swimming lengths in his pool four times per week.
Rod is a chatterbox, but he knows he needs to preserve what is his most valuable asset, his voice, says our mole. “It’s been quite difficult.
Rod’s entire band has been performing at a secret location this week, according to insiders, and Rod is back at his best. Although Rod has promised to deliver a 90-minute set that includes Maggie May, Sailing, and Downtrain Train, the set list is kept a close knit secret.
Three special guests have been pencilled in with the pick of the bunch being Rolling Stones guitarist and old pal Ronnie Wood for an incredible Faces reunion. Sir Rod – who admits he can’t remember playing the festival last in 2002 – may even pay an emotional tribute to Ukraine during the set.
The singer may perform his 1991 anti-war song Rhythm of My Heart, which features an image of an Ukrainian flag, while also residing among refugees from the country in the UK.
It remains to be seen what makes the cut because Rod is adding the finishing touches to the slightly shorter set than his typical Vegas shows, according to a source.
Wife Penny has been a constant observer of the band’s movements during rehearsals. In fact, Stewart’s entire family is fully immersed in the festival spirit.
Three of Rod’s children, including Ruby and Alastair, 19, are camping while the band, Penny, and the band are staying at a £1000-a-night hotel in Bath. The teenager, who had to purchase his own tickets because Glastonbury doesn’t offer any freebies, appears to be following his father when it comes to getting a knee-up.
On Friday morning, he was spotted partying with friends in the festival’s hedonistic Shangri-La neighborhood until 5am. According to a source, “Rod is quite content to let the kids continue their education and is delighted that they are enjoying the festival.”
However, his children are staying at the ultra-lavish Pop-Up Hotel, which is located just outside the festival gates, rather than having to leave for a tent afterwards. One of its 10-person suites, which includes a restaurant, a pool, a full-size swimming pool, and a helipad, costs just under £30, 000 for the duration of the festival.
Although it’s unknown if Sir Rod is paying the tab for the entire Legends performance, he is already paying an incredible £300,000. This includes private jet travel from the US, as well as the arrival of all of his band, who are also using premium economy.
The set and all the necessary equipment must be transported, too. It’s no wonder he doesn’t even touch the sides with his $120,000 in earnings.
He doesn’t mind, says a source, “but it’s such a prestigious opportunity, and he’s running at a big loss.”
Unlike Neil Young who has banned the BBC from live-streaming his Saturday headline slot, Rod’s set will be live-streamed by the BBC and is a flagship plank of their wall-to-wall coverage. But Neil and Rod will at least have one thing in common other than musical pedigree……model railways.
Rod frequently takes parts of his model railway set on tour with him to practice them, frequently booking additional hotel rooms to place them on a large table. He can at least talk to Saturday night headliner Neil about the subject while he keeps the trains at home this time.
Rod will hope that Neil will attend on Sunday, according to a source. Both of them are train-obsessed.
Rod will receive a massage as well as a static bike to warm his limbs up before the performance as opposed to backstage trains. Rod’s rider typically consists of four bottles of Coca-cola and a large bottle of rum before any performances.
According to a source, “Rod is getting a little more booze this time around, but the intention is to bring the party back to the hotel after that.” However, Rod may continue to be present on the site but there are always chances that he will want to leave.
The performance, which Rod is expected to perform side of the stage while Penny is expected to be there in a number of flamboyant outfits, is expected to feature.
She added, “She is Rod’s biggest fan at the best of times and is just bursting with pride that he will be one of Glastonbury’s biggest draws”
Do you believe I’m attractive? Penny undoubtedly does…
Source: Mirror
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