Sir Rod Stewart has had a very successful music career, spanning over six decades, and despite recently celebrating his 80th milestone birthday, the rock icon has insisted he won’t be slowing down any time soon. The 80-year-old joined host Zoe Ball on her BBC Radio 2 show ahead of headlining Glastonbury Legends Slot this month, where he brushed off any speculation about him retiring in the near future.
Chatting to Zoe, he teased: ”My dear record company want me to make a country album, there’s so much in the pipeline I’ve had to drop a few things. I’m very busy and thank the Lord I am, because once you give up your career and I’ve seen it happen to people younger than me, they just fade into oblivion, nothing to wake up in the morning to do.”
He added: “Retirement sounds good, I suppose but not for me, it don’t” as Zoe interjected: “And thank goodness, maybe you do play golf, but I can’t see you retiring and just playing golf.” Rod responded: “No, I think I’ll keep singing until I fall flat on stage like Tommy Cooper or watching Celtic win another trophy in the stands.”
Speaking to the Radio Times about his attitude to the end of his life, he said: “It’s unavoidable!
“I don’t worry any more than anybody else. But you can keep yourself fit. I’m surprised at how many men are so scared of going to the doctor’s. I had prostate cancer and I tell people: go to the doctor – finger up the bum, no harm done.”
The iconic singer is returning to Glastonbury next week with his first appearance at the music festival since 2002. Sir Rod was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017 after suffering from thyroid cancer in 2000.
He is one of several male celebrities in recent months to have opened up about their diagnosis up, and battle with, prostate cancer, including Stephen Fry and Sir Chris Hoy.
