Main Photo Dan Westwell @danwestwell
Rod Stronger Than Ever
Penny shared an update on Rod’s health this week telling The Press Association that Rod was “back at full speed in his day-to-day activities” and will eventually be strong enough to perform again.
She told the Press Association: “He’s back at full speed in his day-to-day activities, but doctor’s orders were to kind of postpone or cancel the current tour, because you know the risk factors involved. I did have to explain to the doctor what Rod’s performances are like, he doesn’t just sit down on a stool or behind a piano, he runs around for nearly two hours with four different costume changes because he’s sweating through everything.
“So, I compared him to either a boxer coming out of his dressing room on the way to the ring, or either a horse coming out the blocks, I mean, he runs on and he’s like, you know, straight into it, 100 miles an hour and doesn’t stop. It’s like running a sprint for him, so just for precaution that tour unfortunately had to be cancelled, which he was devastated about.”
She added: “I mean he does not sit down, I can never find him, he’s, you know, he’s got his hobbies, I mean he’s just been in the gym working out, but we were under strict instructions about the level of workout he could do, and it’s a gradual, build him up, build him up, kind of thing.
“But he’s going to come back stronger than ever, I found it hard enough as it was to slow him down so now he feels like he’s got a new lease of life.”
Bishop’s Stortford, at the Grundon Community Stadium.
On Bank Holiday Monday Rod and Alastair, spent the afternoon supporting the local amateur team, Bishop’s Stortford, at the Grundon Community Stadium.
After the match, Rod took selfies with fans and players. He was there to cheer on his home side, who secured a 2-0 victory against Hitchin Town.
Dan Westwell was at the match and took some great photos and was happy to share with SMILER to see more shots from Dan go to @danwestwell
Rod Stewart Greatest Hits Volume Two And Three
Last week we told you that on October 23, 2026 Rhino Warner are releasing Rod Stewart Greatest Hits Vol. 2 on Teal coloured Vinyl and also Rod Stewart’s Greatest Hits, Vol. on yellow vinyl, The track listing is now confirmed and is as follows
Track Listing Volume Two
1. Passion (2008 Remaster)
- Young Turks (2008 Remaster)
- Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me) [2008 Remaster]
- Baby Jane (2008 Remaster)
- Infatuation (2008 Remaster)
- Some Guys Have All the Luck (2008 Remaster)
- Every Beat of My Heart
- Forever Young (2008 Remaster)
- My Heart Can’t Tell Me No (2008 Remaster)
- Downtown Train (2008 Remaster)
Track listing Volume Three
Track Listing Volume Three
1. This Old Heart of Mine (with Ronald Isley)
- Rhythm of My Heart (2008 Remaster)
- The Motown Song (with The Temptations) [2008 Remaster]
- Tom Traubert’s Blues (Waltzing Matilda) [2008 Remaster]
- Have I Told You Lately (Studio Version Remix)
- Reason to Believe (Unplugged Version)
- If We Fall in Love Tonight (Edit)
- Sometimes When We Touch
- For the First Time
- Ooh La La
What’s On
Here is a great night out for US Rod fans in San Francisco
ROD STEWART TRIBUTE SHOW 🎸
Performed by David John
📅 September 9th
✨ Tonight’s the Night!
Get ready for an unforgettable night of legendary hits & live music! 🎤🔥
🍾 BOOK YOUR TABLE NOW!
UK fans might fancy a trip to Blackpool in December?
And a visit to the The Grand Hotel on December 12th.
Or if you are on holiday in Rhodes check out Atmosphere Bar Lindos on September 16th and the Hot Legs Tribute plus Vogue Duo
More From Chris Nova Productions
As promised here are more stunning photos of Rod at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, on July 31, 2026 taken by Chris Nova Productions
Check back next week for the third and final batch..
Street Child
This week Penny backed the Street Child charity’s Back To School campaign, which aims to get the public to pledge £4 per month to support a child’s education for a whole year, with the charity claiming that 79 million children around the world do not have access to education.
She said: “I remember first recognising Street Child when I saw the work that they were doing in Sierra Leone, and felt like I wanted to reach out, and I donated, but I wanted to see if there was other things I could do. So I’ve periodically been involved in some of their different campaigns and work that they’ve done, and tried to highlight their cause.
“Particularly as a mum, being in such a fortunate position that we are in, feeling so lucky that it’s one thing that we don’t have to worry about is, you know, providing the correct equipment, being able to afford to send our children to a great school.
“Whether it’s a country that’s been devastated by a natural disaster and the infrastructure, and the roads are blocked, and they can’t get to schools, or there’s not enough trained teachers, or of course young girls that aren’t allowed to go to school. We just take it for granted because we live in a country like we do, it’s just unimaginable to think how awful that must be.”
The charity says those who set up a gift before September will directly help Street Child commit to getting a child back to school this term.
Those wishing to donate can do so from the charity’s website, street-child.org/back-to-school.
This week’s Rod Art
This week we feature the unique art of Buenos Aires artist Mauro Buscemi who painted a great portrait of Rod on a lid from a tin of paint!
Mauro tells the story “While painting a huge mural at La Salle Florida School, I saved a treasure. I rescued exactly 120 metal lids from the paint cans I used for the work. These 120 pieces bear the real marks of the process, history, and mystique of mural painting. Today, those lids are transformed into an exclusive series of hand-painted portraits. Each one comes mounted in a box frame, ready to hang.”
Talking to SMILER this week Mauro said “Rod Stewart is an absolute legend; I’ve followed him since I was a kid—I went to every single show he played in Buenos Aires!!!!”
To see more work by Mauro go to https://www.instagram.com/maurobuscemi/
Rod at the Glasgow SECC in December 1995
James Pryce from Dundee, Scotland is hoping someone might be able to help him track down something that would mean an enormous amount to him….Can you help?
Speaking to SMILER this week James explained
I actually have a lovely personal connection with SMILER going back many years. My wife Amanda and I had the pleasure of meeting Rita Belcher, and on one occasion we took Rita out for dinner with us in Glasgow. It’s a memory we both treasure, and we were very sorry to learn that Rita was no longer with us.
So when I started trying to track down this particular piece of Rod Stewart history, it seemed especially appropriate to ask SMILER.
My wife Amanda and I saw Rod at the Glasgow SECC in December 1995, which I believe was either the 3rd or 4th, during the In The Round tour. We were right at the very front.
My wife had made a large bedsheet banner with the words “ROD STEWART – SONGWRITER” written across it.
We made it after seeing a VH1 interview with Rod in which he talked about how people remembered the hair, clothes, image, girls and showmanship, but what sometimes got overlooked was his songwriting. He said he would like to be remembered for that.
Very early in the SECC concert, around Maggie May as I remember it, I put our banner up at the front.
Rod saw it.
He actually called a cameraman over to film the banner, and it was shown on the large screens around the SECC. Rod then asked for a football, came down from the stage, personally handed the ball to me and shook my hand.
I’ve never forgotten it, and still own that ball.
Because Rod deliberately had the cameraman film our banner, I know that pictures of that moment existed on the night. What I would dearly love to discover is whether that camera feed was ever recorded or whether an audience VHS/camcorder recording of either of those Glasgow concerts survives.
The banner saying “ROD STEWART – SONGWRITER” should hopefully make the moment very easy to identify on any surviving footage.
To explain why this means so much to me, I’ve been a Rod fan for practically my entire life.
My parents first took me to see Rod Stewart and the Faces in Dundee when I was just eight years old in the early 1970s.
In the 1980s I went to Rod concerts with my wife. In the 1990s and 2000s I started taking my children, and in more recent years I’ve had the pleasure of taking my grandchildren to see him.
So I’ve seen Rod perform in the 1970s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. My parents took me as a little boy, I later took my own children, and eventually I took my grandchildren.
I’ve effectively grown up — and grown older! — with Rod’s music.
I haven’t managed to see Rod perform since he entered his eighties, but I’m certainly intending to put that right!
I’m not looking to use, publish or reproduce any footage commercially. I would simply love to see that wonderful moment again after more than 30 years and, hopefully, show it to my family.
If any SMILER members have any footage from the Glasgow SECC on 3 or 4 December 1995, or if you know any long-standing Rod collectors who might have an audience VHS, professional recording or arena screen feed, I would be incredibly grateful if you could pass my enquiry on to them.
Even the smallest lead would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this. And please accept my very best wishes to everyone at SMILER. Remembering that dinner with Rita in Glasgow makes contacting you all these years later feel rather special.
My coffee’s cold and I’m getting told that I gotta get back to work.
On Thursday Rod called in Costa, Harlow Retail Park for a hot coffee and had a photo taken with members of the staff
Last Chance…Jeff Beck Book Competition
US Members don’t miss this..It’s your last Chance To Win one of three copies of Jeff Beck Stories – The Original Punk: From Yardbird to The Guitar Shop by Steve Rosen before the competition closes
And Finally…
The winner of our recent Beaulieu Village Hall competition is Sue Bradshaw who wins two free tickets to see Paul Metcalfe doing his brilliant show at Beaulieu Village Hall who are celebrating their Golden Jubilee — 50 years since it opened back in 1976 — and to mark it, they’re throwing a curry night with a live “Rod Stewart Story Some Guys Have All the Luck” on Saturday 3 October 2026. Doors at 6:30pm with curry, sides and drinks, then two live sets at 7:30pm and 9pm (45 minutes each).
It’s all run by volunteer trustees for a small village hall, so it’s very much a community night rather than a big commercial gig — good food, a great atmosphere, and a set of Rod’s classics to sing along to. If you’re anywhere near Hampshire/the New Forest that weekend, the team would love to see some of you there!
https://beaulieuvillagehall.org.uk/rod-stewart-concert-beaulieu-village
Well done Sue..send us some pictures of the night and we will show them in the news
See you next week…
One reply on “This week’s news and gossip”
Glad to see and hear that Rod is on the mend! JD