At 80 years old, Sir Rod Stewart still refuses to be boxed in—especially if that box says “tea time.” As the rock icon gears up to perform in Glastonbury Festival’s legendary Sunday afternoon slot, he’s making one thing crystal clear: don’t mistake the time of day for a sign of slowing down.
“I just wish they wouldn’t call it the tea time slot,” Rod quipped in a recent interview. “That sounds like pipe and slippers, doesn’t it?”
Extending the Set—and Ditching the Small Talk
Not only is Stewart reclaiming the stage, he’s extended his Glastonbury set from 75 minutes to 90, trimming all announcements in favor of pure, uninterrupted music.
“Usually I do well over two hours, so there’s still a load of songs we won’t be able to do,” he said. “I’ll do one number, shout ‘next,’ and go straight into the next one.”
From “Maggie May” to “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy,” “Downtown Train” to “Stay With Me,” Stewart’s setlist will span generations—bringing disco, rock, ballads, and his signature soul into one high-octane medley.
Glastonbury, Take Two
This isn’t Rod’s first trip to Glastonbury. Back in 2002, he took the Pyramid Stage with a dose of skepticism from fans who weren’t sure if the veteran rocker could hold his own alongside The White Stripes or Coldplay. But when the crowd ended up singing along to “Sailing” in unison, all doubt vanished.
“I don’t remember a thing,” Stewart laughed when asked about that show. “I do so many concerts, they all blend into one.”
From Street Corners to Stadiums
Rod’s career is built on stories that sound almost too perfect for rock folklore. He wasn’t discovered for his singing voice, but for playing harmonica while drunk at a train station—a moment that changed everything when blues singer Long John Baldry took notice.
“He was walking along platform nine when he noticed this pile of rubble and clothes with a nose sticking out. That was me.”
Influenced by Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, Stewart molded his iconic rasp into one of the most distinctive voices in rock history—part crooner, part rebel, and all showman.
Still Loud, Still Proud
From breaking records with 3 million fans on Brazil’s Copacabana Beach in 1994 to still packing out festivals today, Rod Stewart isn’t winding down—he’s firing up.
As he takes the stage this weekend, fans can expect a nonstop, nostalgia-soaked, no-frills performance, exactly the way Stewart likes it.
“I’m not slowing down. I’m just skipping the talking and getting on with the music.”
Tea time? More like showtime.
