This week’s news and gossip

The latest reviews

The weekend started with a stinker of a one star review by old punk rocker Thomas H Green at the arts desk who seems to be stuck in 1976, Shame his hero let him down this week by appearing on the masked singer dressed as a joker singing of all songs ‘Man of Constant Sorrow’

https://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-rod-stewart-tears-hercules#comment-form

A much better 4 star review followed by Paul Moody from Classic Rock

https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/tears-of-hercules-everything-you-might-want-from-an-audience-with-rod-stewart

And this could maybe be the last self penned album we hear from Rod, this week he told the Irish Examiner “I don’t think I will be making any more self-penned albums, I have so much stuff I want to do ” .

“I’m in the middle of making a swing album and the record company have asked me to do a country album with duets, so I have to get those two out the way first.

“I can’t see me doing another album of original songs.”

Celtic United..

Though Celtic has his heart, Rod Stewart has always taken a keen interest in Manchester United ever since Scottish Manager Matt Busby was at the helm.

Recently he was pressed on what he thought of Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the Theatre of Dreams and although his thoughts were mostly positive, there was one thing that niggled him slightly.

“It’s wonderful, it’s everywhere you go,” he began “But I’m a little disturbed that he was on the touchline the other night, taking over from Ole.”

The match in question was the Champions League clash with Young Boys in which Ronaldo had been substituted.

“He’s got to stop that,” he exclaimed, “It’s very disrespectful.”

He concluded, “One manager, one player!”

New pad

Rod’s new five star pad overlooking the Aviva Stadium is worth an estimated €6.5million. It was reported this week that he has purchased one of the most palatial properties in the Lansdowne Place development.

A source close to Rod told the Irish Mirror: “Rod has spared no expense in buying one of the top properties in Ballsbridge. “Rod has had his eye on one of the penthouse apartments where he can expect pure luxury.”

In the luxurious Dublin property Rod and Penny will be able to unwind in the residents’ lounge, entertain in their own private cinema or work from home using the boardroom facility.

Rod said he plans on moving into his new Dublin pad in the coming months. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph he added: “If I get out on my balcony, I’m going to see [rugby and football]crowds on a Saturday afternoon. The oceans and beaches, it’s gorgeous.

Football For Change

Rod and his two sons Alastair And Aiden attended a Football For Change charity event at The Titanic Hotel on Stanley Dock Liverpool on Saturday night to help raise over £250,000 for underprivileged children, Rod was asked to give the audience a tune. He responded by saying he was there to show his support as “life has been kind to me, I’ve made lots of money and you have to give a little back.” before delighting fans with an acapella rendition of hit song ‘Have I told You Lately That I Love You’.

Rod was thanked by organiser Jamie Carragher and was photographed with Jamie and Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Chart position

Rod was hoping the new album would follow his last, Blood Red Roses, to the UK No1 spot and become his 11th UK chart topper but knew he had big competition from Ed Sheeran and Abba. He’s was hoping he could do it but felt no pressure that former pal Elton John recently had a No1 with The Lockdown Sessions. Rod said: “Elton’s album wasn’t doing very well until they released the Dua Lipa song [Cold Heart]. That made a difference. It was her that sent it to No1.” Rod entered the charts at number 5 behind Taylor Swift, Abba, Ed Sheeran and Little Mix.

The Wheel

Watch for a guest appearance from Penny on Michael McIntyre’s Saturday night show The Wheel on BBC One, talking of the show Michael said “On the new series there are lots of new faces spinning round including Richard E Grant on movies, Bill Bailey on birds, John Bercow on Parliament, Claudia Winkleman on art, Michael Ball on musicals.. and Penny Lancaster on Rod Stewart is a fun one” The date for Penny’s show has not been announced yet so watch your TV listings.

Live Aid

Rod Stewart has told The BBC that he only recently discovered why he wasn’t part of Live Aid in 1985.

Many expected to see him take part in the global charity event, Rumors at the time suggested that he was unable to get a band together in time to appear, but Rod now gives a different account.

“We actually were supposed to do it,” Rod said. “But a few guys in the band told me that our ex-manager turned it down because I wasn’t getting the right news coverage. He only wanted me to do it if I got on the CBS news at 10 o’clock. He said, ‘If not, he’s not doing it.’ … That’s not what it was about. It was to raise money for kids. It wasn’t about what news channel you were going to be on in America. I only just found this out – I thought it was weird that I didn’t do it.”

Loose Ends

Rod was interviewed by Clive Anderson for Radio 4’s Loose Ends podcast to listen go to

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0011jxj

And was also guest on the Nihal Arthanayake’s great Radio 5 podcast Headliners in what Rod described as his best interview!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0b4t494

Bravo Rod

Piers Morgan praised Rod when he vowed to continue playing all of his old songs, despite suggestion the lyrics may be seen as problematic to ‘modern ways of thinking’…Rod told Clive Anderson “Things like Hot Legs and Stay With Me and Do Ya Think I’m Sexy were all written in a different era, They represent that era, and that’s what makes them worthy.”

Piers tweeted this with the heading Bravo Rod with a row of clapping hands

And Finally

Rod played this years The Royal Variety Performance in front of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The show will be aired in December on ITV.

The organisers thanked Sir Rod, Alan Carr, Anne-Marie, Ed Sheeran, Years & Years, Bill Bailey and all the performers for supporting the Royal Variety Charity at the 94th Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall. An extraordinary night of live entertainment

See main photo [With thanks to Royal Variety Performance · Non-profit organisation]