Rod Stewart and Van Morrison ‘Raise the Roof’ at Benefit Concert Against Prostate Cancer

Applause was received by Sir Rod Stewart, Van Morrison and Paloma Faith as they led the star-studded line-up at a benefit concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

Thousands of people gathered in the world-famous hall in central London for the Raise the Roof charity concert on Wednesday night, organized by the charity Prostate Cancer UK and 64-year-old musician Jools Holland, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2014.

Holland, who played piano along with his rhythm and blues orchestra throughout the show, accompanied all of the musician’s sets.

Meanwhile, Holland and Sir Rod, dressed in a silver suit, presented a new song from a swing album they were working on.

Singer Maggie May danced around the stage singing the refrain of “Sun and Flowers”.

Sir Rod, who previously battled the disease himself and flew to the event from California, told the audience: “To be here is amazing.

“You may or may not have this terrible disease. If it wasn’t for my wonderful wife, wonderful family, and some wonderful doctors, I wouldn’t be here today.

The singer later joked about the outfit Van Morrison wore during his performance, which included green aviator sunglasses and a light blue suit with a matching trilby hat.

Sir Rod said, “Ladies and gentlemen, a special round of applause for Van Morrison’s costume.”

“I always warm up with Have I Told You Lately? but he’s in the next dressing room, so I didn’t do that. Well done Van.

Sir Rod then said, “What more can we say, Jules?” before adding, “I love you.”

Holland replied, “I love you too,” before they talked about how they got to know each other through their mutual love of model trains.

Holland repeatedly thanked the performers for their support during the show, saying, “I’d like to thank all the artists who came from all over the world to be here tonight.”

The dad, 77, and daughter, 35, duo had their guitars out for the sing-along to Ooh La La by The Faces.

Rod Stewart melts hearts with moving video for Touchline and announces special show in honour of late father

Sir Rod Stewart has delighted fans and left us teary with news of a very special show in Edinburgh in honour of his late father, along with a tear-jerking new video for his track Touchline. To add even more excitement, a selection of tickets will be donated to NHS frontline workers. 

Sir Rod said: “If you know anything about me you know that our dad’s love of football has most definitely left its impact on me and my brothers and I’m delighted that it’s now such an important part of my children’s lives as well.

"The song Touchline was my tribute to him and I’m so happy and moved that the new video takes that to the ultimate level just in time for Father’s Day.

"We just played a magnificent show at the Hollywood Bowl which has me excited for both our North American and UK tours and it’s terrific that we’ll be able to have both NHS workers and doctors and nurses who have been on the front lines these last couple of years as our guests!”

Touchline is taken from The Tears Of Hercules album with the full video dropping this Friday.

“A Scotsman and plumber by trade”, sings Sir Rod, honouring his Edinburgh-born father Robert.

“Now it's my time on the side in the rain and watch my boys play the beautiful game.” he sings.

“And sometimes, sometimes I look up to the clouds and I say ‘Dad I hope you're looking down, cause if it wasn't for you, all this might not have been.’” 

Rod Stewart v Elvis Costello

It has been handbags at dawn for the rock elders Sir Rod Stewart and Elvis Costello OBE. At the Platinum Jubilee concert two weeks ago, National Treasure Sir Rod popped up and gamely honked through Sweet Caroline — and Costello could not resist having a poke at the results.

During a subsequent gig in Glasgow, he addressed the crowd. “I mean, I know you all love him and he’s one of yours and everything — but Rod? We all have bad nights vocally — but for f***’s sake, Sweet f***ing Caroline? Are you f***ing kidding me?”

Understandably miffed, Stewart took to his High Dudgeon Writing Bureau and posted the following missive on Instagram: “Yes, my voice was rough cos of Covid. I apologise, I thought it better to make an appearance rather than let everyone down so sorry. By the way where’s your hair gone mate????? Sir Rod.”

Oooooh! Oooooh! The men are fighting! Over singing and hair! Is this toxic masculinity? Or just fabulous, bloody, icon-on-icon bitching? Costello then tried to row back: “If you read my actual remark, it [was] about the wrong-headed idea of asking Sir Rod [to] pass up You Wear It Well to lead a f***ing singalong,” only for Rod’s wife, Penny Lancaster, to explain: “[He] didn’t have much of a choice” when it came to performing Sweet Caroline, because it’s “the Queen’s favourite”.

And, indeed, you can see why the Queen plumped for the cover version — most of Rod’s back catalogue would have been inappropriate, given the circumstances. Hot Legs? She has mobility issues. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?? Prince Andrew. Sailing? The royal yacht was decommissioned in 1997. Maggie May? It’s about an ageing woman called Margaret who keeps having romantic liaisons with inappropriate men. Honestly, I think Her Majesty A&R’d this whole thing very well. Although Costello was very gracious about the “balding” comment: “Bad gigs come and go — like hair, which I keep sewn in my hat.”

The singer wanted to put his weight behind a dinner hosted by our columnist Tam Cowan.

Sir Rod Stewart has pledged his support to a fundraiser for cancer -stricken Rangers legend Andy Goram.

The singer wanted to put his weight behind a dinner hosted by our columnist Tam Cowan.

Rod has now donated a VIP night at one of his gigs at the Hydro, Glasgow, on November 29 and December 3.

Two tickets, which will include meeting Rod, will be auctioned at Airdrie Working Men’s Club on June 22.

It is understood online bids have already topped £500.

Goram revealed to the Record last month that he had been diagnosed with terminal oesophageal cancer after thinking he had indigestion.

The ex-Ibrox goalkeeper said doctors told him he had six months to live, which was later cut to six weeks.

Sir Rod got in touch after Tam joked about his off-key performance last week at the Platinum Jubilee party.

Tam said: “Rod had a giggle about my column. He said he was hoarse because he was recovering from Covid.

“It’s amazing that he that has put up a meet and greet for Andy.”

Ex-Celt Frank McAvennie and other Old Firm legends are expected at the event.

Goram was last week moved to St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie after radiotherapy.

Sunday Conversation: Rod Stewart On The Queen, Elton, Touring And Why He May Retire His Hits After This Tour

Steve Baltin  Senior Contributor. Forbes

Rod Stewart is feeling a bit sentimental these days. At 78, Stewart, who is kicking off his upcoming North American tour with Cheap Trick June 14 at the Hollywood Bowl, opened his Vegas residency with a cover of Robert Palmer's "Addicted To Love" as a tribute to Palmer, "Who was a good mate of mine."

Stewart, who played the Queen's Jubilee in the U.K. this weekend, was also open to running into long time friend Elton John, with whom he has been publicly feuding for years.

Loose Women’s Penny Lancaster, 51, and Rod Stewart, 77, celebrate 15th wedding anniversary

Penny Lancaster and Rod Stewart have celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary in style.

The pair married back in 2007 in an intimate ceremony in La Cervara, Italy, and the couple look happier than ever 15 years later.

In a sweet post on Penny's Instagram account, it showed the 77-year-old rock star with his model wife, 51, posing in front of a fancy stairwell before a dinner.

The couple are celebrating the occasion slightly earlier than expected, however, with the official anniversary not until next Thursday. But rock star Rod is heading stateside for a couple of shows at the Hollywood Bowl and Santa Barbara Bowl before hitting the road on a tour of the US.

Music industry is stuck in analogue and must evolve, says Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart has called on the music industry to evolve like the Queen and said that artists are not reapingthe benefits of the streaming boom. The singer said the music business was stuck in an “analogue age” and must follow the lead of Britain’s jubilee-celebrating monarch in embracing change.

Writing in The Times, Stewart said: “Streaming is the greatest gift to artists and songwriters since the mass production of records — yet in many cases data is still being processed manually, meaning that these great creators don’t get paid promptly, and sometimes not at all.

“An army of middlemen and administrators around the world take a slice of the cake as the royalties still pass through a system of agencies, offices, payment processes and agreements which were designed for the world as it was when, as a boy, I and so many millions watched the Coronation.”

Stewart, 77, is among the world’s bestselling artists. He has sold more than 250 million records and had 31 top 10 singles in the UK. The singer, whose hits include Sailing, The First Cut is the Deepest and Da Ya Think I’m Sexy has nearly 10.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, while his top 10 songs have racked up more than 246 million streams on the platform. Spotify pays between $0.003 to $0.005 per stream, meaning that Stewart’s revenue from the platform for these songs is estimated to be more than $4 million.

“Music industry revenues have been climbing for a decade and the growth in streaming means they should continue to do so,” he said. “But the way in which the music industry is structured means that revenue isn’t getting to the artists – the musicians and songwriters who create the songs.” Stewart welcomed an intervention from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which in January announced it was launching an investigation into the music streaming market. It vowed to analyse the sector “from creator to consumer, paying particular attention to the roles played by record labels and music streaming services”. The CMA must publish its findings by January 26, 2023.

The regulator was asked to launch the study after a sharply critical report by a group of MPs last year said that the streaming market needed a complete overhaul to prevent it jeopardising the future of the British music industry. The report, from the Commons digital, culture, media and sport select committee, said that more needed to be done to ensure songwriters, performers and composers received a fair share of earnings from their music being streamed.

Stewart is on the line-up for the Platinum Party at the Palace concert tomorrow evening, taking to the stage outside Buckingham Palace 20 years after performing at the Golden Jubilee celebration.

He said the UK had “punched well above its weight providing a soundtrack to the world” during the Queen’s 70-year reign. “I’m optimistic we’re now turning on to a path where our love of music and determination to succeed will mean that the UK music industry is going to be as successful for the next 70 years as it was for the last, and that writers and performers will fairly share in that success,” he said.

In the UK, more than 80 per cent of recorded music is listened to through streaming services. Total music sales rose 12.8 per cent to £1.3 billion last year, according to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Overall UK physical music sales rose 14.6 per cent to £241 million in 2021, a faster rate of growth than streaming, which was up 13.7 per cent to £837 million.

Stewart is well placed to take advantage of the boom given that old music is performing well on streaming services as it reaches new audiences. The BPI published research in 2020 showing that back-catalogue albums had accounted for 68.2 per cent of all purchases and streams in 2020, a rise from 62.6 per cent in 2019.

The Jubilee concert, which is taking place on June 4, will be celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years on the throne.

He appeared in high spirits as he practised his set to stunned Londoners who were passing by.

Rod Stewart and family entourage pose outside Buckingham Palace ahead of Jubilee concert

As he gears up for the performance, the I Don't Want to Talk About It singer took to his Instagram Stories to share a sweet photo in front of the Palace.

The musician looked suave as he posed a few steps in front of the rest of the family.

He rocked slim-fitting black trousers, a white button-up shirt, a blue and red flannel coat as well as a brown scarf.

His wife Penny Lancaster, who he married in 2007, stood a metre behind him as she placed her arms around two others.