Rod Stewart bonds with ex Rachel Hunter AND wife Penny Lancaster as they cheer on son Liam

ROD STEWART and his wife Penny Lancaster proved three isn't always a crowd as they enjoyed a day out with the singer's ex Rachel Hunter yesterday.

Rod Stewart’s ice hockey star son reckons his rocker dad will always choose CELTIC over him

Liam, 22, was making his debut for Great Britain's senior ice hockey side at the same time his old man was at Hampden's Scottish Cup Old Firm clash

ROD STEWART’s ice hockey star son reckons his rocker dad will always choose CELTIC over him.

The Hoops-daft superstar was at Hampden on Sunday to see the Hoops keep their treble dream on track by dumping Old Firm rivals Rangers 2-0 in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

At the same time, son Liam was making his debut for Great Britain’s senior ice hockey side as they launched their bid for World Championship glory in Belfast.

The 22-year-old helped Team GB beat Croatia 4-2 on his debut, then chipped in with his first international goal on Monday night as they thumped Estonia 5-1 to stay on course for a gold medal and promotion at the Division 1B tournament.

Liam’s mum – former model Rachel Hunter – tweeted from the stands at the SSE Arena as she watched her lad star for the side coached by Scots ace Pete Russell.

But the 6ft1in forward admits the chances of his old man coming along to watch are slimmer – especially if Brendan Rodgers’ side are in action.

Coventry Blaze star Liam grinned: “My dad was at the Celtic game at Hampden on Sunday – I saw him on the TV and it looked like he was enjoying what was a big win for them.

“When it comes down to watching Celtic or watching me I’m pretty sure he’s going to pick Celtic most times, but I won’t hold that against him, especially given the way they are playing at the moment!

“I’m still working on trying to convert him to hockey, he was at a club game to see me playing for Coventry earlier in the season and it would be nice to see him watch me play for GB.

“My mum is here for the week, she’s here along with my girlfriend and it’s good to have that family support at a big event like this.”

London-born Liam grew up in Los Angeles – and admitted he’s having to brush up on the lyrics to the national anthem after stepping up to the GB senior squad for the first time.

A video of him and fellow new boy Brendan Brooks singing God Save The Queen on the team bus as part of their initiation ceremony saw Stewart reading the words from his phone.

He added: “I have managed to pick up the words a bit better now thankfully!

“That video was a little bit embarrassing – but they play the anthem of the winning team at the end of each game at the tournament so I’ve heard it another couple of times already.

“Hopefully if we win a few more I’ll be spot on with it by the end of the week.”

Rod Stewart adds state of the art football pitch to his £4.6 million Essex mansion

The Scottish rocker installed the seven-a-side artificial surface at vast expense after moving to a posh pad in Essex.

Now Celtic fan Rod, 72, can play with pals to his heart’s content, shielded from view by a row of tall trees.Our local source said: “Rod has lavished huge amounts of time and attention on his new home and the football pitch is one of his favourite features.

“He still loves the game and knows it keeps him fi t. Now he can have a kickabout with family or friends in complete privacy.

The new pitch is a subtle addition to the property and blends in very well.” Rod’s love of the “beautiful game” is well known.

He once quipped: “I’m a rock star because I couldn’t be a soccer star.”

Last year we revealed how Rod had fi nally moved into the 46-acre estate, with its 10-bedroom Grade II-listed mansion, swimming pool and four self contained cottages.

He spent £4.65million on the property, which dates back to 1712.

However, Rod didn’t get it all his own way, with Epping Council planners rejecting his application for pitch-side floodlighting.

Rod Stewart's son looks to hit high notes at SSE Arena with ice hockey 

Rod Stewart's son has arrived in Belfast and is set to rock the SSE Arena. However, Liam Stewart isn't known for his singing. Instead, the 22-year-old is hoping to hit the high notes with the Great Britain international ice hockey team as they prepare to take on the world.

The offspring of Rod and former model Rachel Hunter, Liam is in the GB squad to face Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Japan over the next week in the World Championship 1 Group B.

It is the first time the UK has hosted a World Championship tournament in 25 years and Belfast won the right to hold the event ahead of Ukraine last May. GB will face Croatia in their opening game at 4pm tomorrow.

It is not known if either of Liam's parents will be in Belfast to cheer him on. Rod has been to the SSE Arena before, playing a sell-out gig their last November.

Belfast Telegraph

Rod Stewart speaks exclusively ahead of Shrewsbury show
 

Shrewsbury news 16/04/2017

Sir Rod Stewart will be strutting his stuff when he comes to Shrewsbury Town FC in June. We spoke to the 72-year-old about life, loves and music.
 

Rod – that’s ‘Sir’ Rod – Stewart is reflecting on the areas in which he’s excelled during 56 technicolour years in rock‘n’roll. He laughs a raucous laugh. It’s the sound of whisky on gravel, of a uniquely soulful voice that made Maggie May, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? and You Wear It Well international hits

We’re waiting for him to say something like: ‘especially singing . . .’ But he doesn’t. He just leaves the laugh hanging. It’s the sound of a thousand stories, of a life well-lived.

That hat-trick doesn’t reflect the full picture, of course. The man who had five consecutive number one albums in the UK, has enjoyed 62 hit singles, four American number ones, one knighthood and eight kids by five women has sold more than 100 million records, is worth £160 million and bedded more than 1,000 women: “The most memorable is always the current one. The rest just merge into a sea of blondes.”

He’s a bona fide A-lister; a singer who ranks alongside other British greats such as Macca, Elton and his old mates Mick and Keef.

And yet away from the caricature, away from the larger-than-life entertainer who epitomised the sex, drugs and rock‘n’roll myth is a quieter, more reflective soul.

And among his many lifetime achievement awards, his double induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and his receipt of a CBE from Queen Elizabeth II is another unexpected honour.

In 2013, one of the world’s greatest rock‘n’roll stars was named Dull Man Of The Year.

Most rock‘n’rollers demand bottles of Champagne, blue M&Ms, lobster thermidor and the like on their list of demands. But not Rod. He’d always ask for a spare room so that he could set up his trains.

“The one thing about touring is that there’s a lot of downtime and you feel like you’re wasting your life. I’d have a spare room in the hotel and I’d pass away five or six hours. I was wonderfully content. It wasn’t always that way. Before the trains it was always sha**ing and drinking.”

Rod will leave his beloved trains in their shed for a week in June when he flies back to the UK. He’s got a series of stadium shows, including one at Shrewsbury Town FC on June 7.

“It’ll be every song that you want to hear plus a few more,” he says. “I don’t tend to do too many songs that people don’t know. I look at it like this: If Otis Redding or Sam Cooke were alive I’d want to see them do what I loved. So people can expect a very energetic and very sexy show. I’ve got six girls in the band – they look amazing and they are amazing musically. I’ll also be kicking 40 signed soccer balls into the audience, which I seem to have been doing for a million years.”

It’s 9am in LA and the sun is already high in the sky. “It’s another glorious day,” says Sir Rod. “What’s it like back in England?”

His career continues to move forward as he builds on the remarkable success that he’s enjoyed since the Millennium. Rod’s Great American Songbook series allowed him to reinterpret some of the greatest songs of all time, from Cole Porter’s Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye and Isham Jones’s It Had To Be You to Sammy Cahn’s Time After Time and the Rodgers & Hart classic Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.

The records went platinum around the world and Rod loved making them. “I’m very proud of my American songbook series. I’d have done volumes 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. They stretch you as a vocalist. They bring out a side of you and exercise your vocal chords in a different way to the rock numbers.”

Not that he’ll be playing Frank Sinatra songs at Shrewsbury. “That’s a different show and I don’t mix the two. I did once, about 10 years ago. There was this couple in the front row, they must have been in their 80s. They were expecting the American Songbook and the first number I did was Hot Legs. I think they had blood coming out of their ears. After that, I thought ‘never again

He turned his hand to soul covers soon after, with Soulbook, his 25th studio album, which was a hit around the world. And since then there’s been a successful return to original material. His 2013 Time album, written after a 20-year writers’ block – was a number one hit and earned him a platinum disc. Another Country, released in 2015, earned another platinum disc and went to number two.

“If it hadn’t have been for Elvis Presley, I’d have had two number ones,” he says. Then he laughs again.

“Rock’n’roll, American Songbook, soul . . . I can do the whole lot mate.”

If he had to pick one album from his 48-year solo career, it would be Every Picture Tells A Story. A number one on both sides of the Atlantic, it featured Mandolin Wind, Maggie May, Reason to Believe, a cover of Dylan’s Tomorrow Is A Long Time and the Stewart-Ronnie Wood classic, Every Picture Tells A Story.

“I always thought the breakthrough was special.”

It was, but perhaps it wasn’t entirely unexpected. He’d already come to prominence with The Jeff Beck Group, in which he’d lined up with guitarist Jeff Beck and his mate Ronnie Wood. “It was just me and Jeff out front. We exchanged riffs with each other.”

Then came one of the great Mod groups, The Faces. Formed from the ashes of the Small Faces, after Steve Marriott had left that group to form Humble Pie, the classic line-up featured Rod on vocals, Ronnie Wood on guitar, Ronnie Lane on bass, Kenney Jones on drums and Ian McLagan on keyboards. They are still remembered fondly.

“The Faces weren’t the greatest of musicians, but boy could they drink. People loved us. We were extremely basic and we were mostly p***ed all the time. They loved the vulnerability. I wouldn’t never have left The Faces. But we lost Ronnie Lane to ill health. Then Woody had the opportunity to join The Stones and he couldn’t say no to that. I don’t want people to think I broke the Faces up. Woody found another band and we lost Ronnie. That’s what happened.”

It was time for Rod to go it alone. He’d already cultivated his Rod the Mod image and his heartfelt mix of folk, rock and country blues soon made him successful. Though his debut album stalled and 1970s Gasoline Alley only brushed the UK charts, he subsequently hit his stride and from 1971 to 1976 took up residency at number one on the chart. Every Picture Tells A Story, Never A Dull Moment, Smiler, Atlantic Crossing and A Night On The Town were all huge hits and while the follow-ups – Foot Loose & Fancy Free and 1978’s Blondes Have More Fun – stalled at number three, both went platinum and were huge in the States.

Remarkably, Rod sustained his success. While other rock’n’roll figures burned out, he stayed on the road and remained in the charts. “Every career has its high moments and low moments. No one can sustain that level of success forever. There was a period when I wasn’t selling too many albums. But the American Songbook was great and things have gone well ever since.”

And yet for all of his success, Rod was reticent to start writing his own material once more. Time was released in 2013 and went to number one. “Things had been great and then the songwriting started again. I wasn’t sure. I thought ‘who wants to listen to me?’ At the time, I was 69. But people did and that gave me such a hit.” It’s fuelled the fire for more and Rod has been busy writing new songs. “I can’t say too much. I’m sworn to secrecy about one of the projects I’m working on.”

He’s been working with the elusive Paddy McAloon, the Prefab Sprout singer, and fans can expect to hear the fruits of their labours in the not too distant future. “I’m a big old Prefab Sprout fan. Paddy’s just written a song for me, Who Invented The Snowflake?”

At 72-years-young, Rod remains busy. His contribution to music was recognised last year when he was knighted. Rod arrived at Buckingham Palace with his wife, Penny Lancaster, and youngest children, Alastair and Aiden. “That was quite a day. I was over the moon. I was happy with the CBE but Penny kept saying ‘wouldn’t a knighthood be nice’.

“The good thing about it is that it’s voted for by the common public. They send in their votes, they write and say who should get one. So it’s an honour from the British people, rather than just the Queen. That’s the way I look at it. But it hasn’t changed me at all. People still just call me Rod. It’s lovely.”

Thoughts of the 1,000 blondes have long since disappeared following his marriage to his third wife, Penny, who he describes as ‘the love of my life’. These days, he’s happy being a family man.

“Well, having had three wives and eight kids, it goes without saying. I enjoy being a dad. And I’m thoroughly enjoying this period of my life with my boys. With Alana (his first wife) we parted company, so I didn’t see as much of Kimberly and Sean (his second and third children). Then Rachel (his second wife) left me, so I didn’t see the kids (Renee and Liam, his fifth and sixth children) as they were growing up. I missed out on some of those wonderful times from five to 14 because they weren’t living with me. The exes don’t often bump into each other. But they all get on fairly well.”

He dotes on Alastair and Aiden, his seventh and eighth children, who are 11 and six. He wants to build a swimming pool for Alastair so that he can train to be an Olympic swimmer. He and Penny have asked for planning permission for a 20-metre long pool at their £5 million Epping Forest mansion so that Aiden can train at home.

“My wife and I are torn down the middle. I’m a great football fan and only recently gave it up. The boys are Celtic supporters, of course. Aiden adores football but he’s gifted as a swimmer. So we’ll see.

“But the kids are doing well. Ruby (his fourth child, by model Kelly Emberg) is 22 and she’s just been signed by Sony. I listen to what she and the rest of them listen to. I’m fairly clued up, even though I am 72.”

He marvels at the careers of modern superstars such as Sam Smith and Adele. But the people he still loves most are the great soul men, like David Ruffin, who was lead singer with The Temptations. “David was such a wonderful singer. I knew him so well. He would sing with me in Detroit.”

And though drinking and sha**ing have been high on his list of priorities, singing remains the number one. “I’ve sung all of the songs I’ve wanted to sing. If I could’ve written any of my favourite songs, they’d have been Van Morrison’s Have I Told You Lately, Cars and Girls by Paddy McAloon and In The Midnight Hour by Wilson Picket.”

And if we’re lucky, we’ll hear those – and a bunch of others – when he headlines Shrewsbury Town on June 7th.

Isle of Wight festival: Rod Stewart set to reunite with The Faces to fulfill ‘bucket list’

Sir Rod Stewart is planning to reunite with the remaining members of The Faces at Isle of Wight Festival this June.
 

Rod and family back in the UK

They split their time between sunny Los Angeles and their home country.

And Penny Lancaster, 46, couldn't have looked more excited to be back on home soil on Saturday as she arrived back in London with husband Rod Stewart, 71 and their sons Alastair, 11 and Aiden, six. 

The leggy blonde larked about in some fountains at Heathrow airport as the family of four enjoyed some fun back in Blighty.

Penny showed off her trim figure in skinny jeans teamed with a leather jacket and flowing scarf for her return to the capital after some time in Los Angeles.

She slipped on a pair of shades as they family strolled through the airport, before the fun-loving mum spotted some fountains, promptly running over for a splash around.

Rod meanwhile was looking dapper in a smart blazer teamed with white slim-line trousers for the flight home.

He added a cricket jumper tied around his waist and slip on shoes.

Penny was seen lovingly stroking her youngest son Aiden's face as the family headed to their London home after the long flight.  

Family fun day: Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster hit the shops with sweet sons Alastair and Aiden

He's a doting dad to eight children with five different women.

And Rod Stewart looked every inch the family man as he enjoyed a low-key shopping trip with his model wife Penny Lancaster-Stewart, 46, and their two sons Alastair, 11, and Aiden, six, in Hollywood on Tuesday. 

The rocker, 71, was sporting a dapper look in a tailored cream linen suit as he joined his wife and sons - as well as son Sean, 36, from his first marriage to former model Alana Hamilton, 71 - for a spot of retail therapy.

Wrapping an arm protectively over her eldest son Alastair, 11, the British model perfected her off-duty look with a pair of red hue mirrored sunglasses and sliders.

Alastair looked sweet in his casual outfit of a black Nike T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, with little brother Aiden, six, following suit in a similar ensemble.

Sean also dressed in a relaxed manner in a grey top and khaki shorts, complete with baseball cap.

The group all looked to be in high spirits, enjoying their day out with their father. 

Sean then took his silver-haired rocker dad took out for a spin in his white convertible Ferrari, which featured a swanky red leather interior.

The Stewart men undoubtedly had a brilliant time as they whizzed through the streets in Sean's slick car, soaking up the Californian spring sunshine. 

Rod has previously credited Penny - who he tied the knot with in 2007 in Portofino, Italy - for bringing his children from various relationships together. 

Rod Stewart wants to build a 65ft swimming pool at his £5m mansion so his son, 11, can become an Olympic champion

Sir Rod Stewart plans to build a 65ft swimming pool at his £5million historic mansion to help turn his 11-year-old son into an Olympic champion.

The singer's son Alastair, who has shown great promise as a swimmer and has already won a host of competitions, has ambitions to compete for Team GB.

And Sir Rod has now lodged plans with his wife Penny Lancaster to build a large pool house for Alastair in the gardens of their Grade II-listed home in Harlow, Essex.

Proposals submitted to Epping Forest District Council state the pool proposed by the 72-year-old rocker will also incorporate changing rooms, a bar and a dining area.

The singer bought the palatial ten-bedroom, 18th century Durrington House on the edge of Epping Forest for £4.65million in 2013 but only moved in last year.

A design statement states: 'It is not unusual for the owners of such impressive properties to desire a private swimming facility for their personal use.

'The pool is also designed as a training pool for the owner's son, who is achieving high level performance in competitive swimming, hence the size and shape.

'The 20m length is necessary as a training pool for the owner's son who is already achieving high level competitive swimming awards. The other use is for the recreational and entertaining benefit.

'There would be absolutely no potential or architectural justification to incorporate a pool into this historic building or add it as an extension to the house.'

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You: Rod Stewart, 72, and Penny Lancaster, 46, look close as they hold hands on family outing in Bel Air

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You: Rod Stewart, 72, and Penny Lancaster, 46, look close as they hold hands on family outing in Bel Air
 

Rod and Penny on a day out

Penny Lancaster recently revealed husband Sir Rod Stewart needs to be ‘showered with affection’ when he comes off stage. And when strolling in LA, too.
She reassured the Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? star he’s still got it at 72 with a public show of affection as they walked arm in arm after shopping at Zara and American Apparel.

Celtic fan Rod Stewart proves he still has the moves at 72 as he smashes a penalty during his fitness regime

The Do Ya Think I'm Sexy singer is a massive Hoops supporter and regularly attends games at Celtic Park

To watch video click the link http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/rod-stewart-celtic-fan-goal-10169706