This week’s news and gossip

Main photo by Karen Chande

PNC Bank Arts Center. New Jersey

On Friday Rod was back in action at the PNC in New Jersey this time with Richard Marx as support but still without Don Kirkpatrick who is still unwell..Get well soon Don

Andrew Siddall bumped into Penny before the show

Stan Goldstein bumped into Alastair at the show

Stan Goldstein, Joe Jackson, Lorraine Balkau Baer and Alisa Vitale all got some great shots from the night and here are the thoughts of Martin Heidt

..It was another one of those evenings that concertgoers feel could never last long enough. That was certainly the case for the approximately 17,000 fans at the PNC Bank Arts Centre in Holmdel, NJ, who were treated to two musical icons.
The show that evening was originally planned for Yankee Stadium and was to be a joint event featuring Sir Rod and Billy Joel. However, after Joel fell ill and cancelled all his shows, the concert was quickly moved to Holmdel, and Stewart brought in his buddy Richard Marx as a special guest at short notice.
Marx opened the evening with a nine-song set, including, of course, his big hits ‘Endless Summer Nights,’ ‘Hold On To The Nights’ and ‘Right Here Waiting.’

Then Sir Rod took to the stage and, after Marx’s rather gentle tones, really got the audience going with ‘Infatuation’, ‘Tonight I’m Yours’ and ‘It’s A Heartache’.
The fans danced their feet sore and sang along loudly and confidently to the ballads ‘Tonight’s The Night’, ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’ and ‘Have I Told You Lately’.

Compared to the other shows from the previous days, there were no changes to the set list: ‘Maggie May,’ ‘It Takes Two,’ ‘Forever Young’ and ‘Some Guys Have All The Luck,’ which once again concluded the evening, put the audience in a festive mood and brought back fond memories of times long past for some fans.

Merriweather Post Pavilion Columbia

On Saturday The band minus Joanne and Don who are both unwell played Merriweather post Pavilion and Karen Chande was on hand to bring us all the photographs from the night and Martin Heidt gives us his thoughts

There was no time to catch their breath after the evening in New Jersey; that same night, the entire entourage travelled 320 km to Columbia, where Rod Stewart took to the stage at the Merriweather Post Pavilion on Sunday evening.

And what had gone down so well with the audience the night before was also a hit in the state of Maryland. True to the slightly modified football saying ‘Never change a winning setlist’, a once again cheerful Sir Rod presented his audience in Columbia with the same setlist he had played the night before in Holmdel. There was only one small change: this time, instead of ‘Proud Mary,’ the band sang the Donna Summer classic ‘Hot Stuff’ during Stewart’s second costume change.

Conclusion of the entire weekend: two strong performances in the eastern United States, enthusiastic fans in both arenas and great anticipation already among fans in Toronto, Canada, where Sir Rod will make his next appearance on his North American tour.

Setlist:

1. Infatuation
2. Tonight I’m Yours
3. It’s A Heartache
4. It Takes Two
5. The First Cut Is The Deepest
6. Tonight’s The Night
7. Forever Young
8. Ooh La La
9. Young Turks
10. Maggie May
11. I’d Rather Go Blind
12. Lady Marmalade (/Band only)
13. Mandolin Wind
14. Reason To Believe
15. Have I Told You Lately
16. Holmdel: Proud Mary / Columbia: Hot Stuff (band only)
17. Love Train
18. Rhythm Of My Heart
19. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy
20. Hot Legs
21. Some Guys Have All The Luck

Never A Dull Moment

Album Release Review: Never a Dull Moment (released 21 July 1972) By Martin Heidt

​A document of its time, full of soul, charm and unpretentious authenticity
More than five decades have passed since Rod Stewart released Never a Dull Moment in the summer of 1972 – an album that, in retrospect, is more than just a follow-up to the outstanding Every Picture Tells a Story. It is a work that shines today as it did then with its unpretentious honesty, musical diversity and Stewart’s unique voice. From the perspective of 2025, this album seems almost like a counterpoint to today’s slickly produced pop world: raw, charming and deeply human.
‘You Wear It Well’ remains the undisputed classic of the album to this day. The song tells of lost love in a melancholic tone, but without sentimentality – with that mixture of irony and vulnerability that made Rod Stewart so distinctive at the time. The track remains a perennial favourite in streaming playlists for ‘Classic Rock Ballads’ or ‘Vintage Storytellers’.
But the album is not just one hit. ‘True Blue’ opens with casual rock “n” roll energy, and you can really feel the proximity to the Faces era – Stewart’s band at the time, whose influence on his solo sound is often underestimated. The song has an immediacy that is rarely heard in 2025.
What makes the album particularly appealing today is its stylistic breadth – Stewart moves effortlessly between folk, blues, rock and soul. His version of ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’, for example, remains one of the most moving interpretations of this soul classic – stripped down, raw, heartbreaking. At a time when artificial emotions often seem staged, Stewart’s voice sounds so authentic here that you almost forget it’s a cover.
‘Angel’ – a soulful tribute to Jimi Hendrix – has also gained depth over the decades. Where other cover versions age, this one gains more dignity with each passing year.
From today’s perspective, Never a Dull Moment is not an album of grand poses, but one of subtle nuances. It is the work of a musician who did not have to bend himself out of shape to be moving. Stewart does not write for effect – he tells stories. And that is what makes him relevant to this day.
Conclusion:
53 years after its release, Never a Dull Moment feels like a musical relic from a time when it was still about storytelling, feeling and playing – not calculating. It is an album that has not lost its lustre over time, but has gained depth. Anyone who wants to understand Rod Stewart – not the late entertainer in a glittery suit, but the real musician with a raw soul – will find one of his most honest moments here. Let’s get to the point: NADM – a classic that no well-stocked rock or singer/songwriter collection should be without.

Chart positions:
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 3
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 1
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) 8
German Albums (Official Top 100) 37
Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi) 22
Japanese Albums (Oricon) 56
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 2
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) 8
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 4
UK Albums (OCC) 1
US Billboard 200 2
Personnel
Rod Stewart – vocals, acoustic guitar
Ronnie Wood – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, pedal steel guitar, bass guitar
Ronnie Lane – bass guitar on ‘True Blue’ and “Angel”
Micky Waller – drums on all songs except ‘True Blue’
Kenney Jones – drums on ‘True Blue’
Ian McLagan – Hammond organ, piano
Neemoi ‘Speedy’ Aquaye – congas
Pete Sears – piano on ‘Italian Girls’ ‘What Made Milwaukee Famous’ (single), bass guitar on ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’.
Brian – piano
Spike Heatley – upright bass
Dick Powell – violin
Martin Quittenton – acoustic guitar
Gordon Huntley – steel guitar
Ray Jackson – mandolin
Arrangements on ‘Twistin’ the Night Away’ by Jimmy Horowitz

Aiden McLuckie

Sir Rod donated £4,000 to a fundraiser in memory of a Celtic-mad teenager Aiden McLuckie who died last week aged only 14

Aiden passed away on Wednesday, July 16, after he was involved in an incident on the A76 near Bargower, between Kilmarnock and Mauchline.

His family have thanked the community for their kindness and generosity after a memorial fundraiser raised more than £10,000.

Ozzy Osbourne

On Tuesday it was announced that The Prince Of Darkness Ozzy Osbourne had passed away, Ronnie Wood who had shared the stage at Ozzy’s farewell concert and Rod lead tributes posting

I am so very sad to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne, What a lovely goodbye concert he had at Back To The Beginning in Birmingham Ronnie Wood

ex RSG drummer Carmine Appice posted Very sad about Ozzy’s passing He was a really nice guy. He will be missed. We had some great times together condolences to the Osborne family 🙏🙏RIP my friend

Ozzy Osbourne and Rod were both performers at the first Rock in Rio festival in January 1985. The festival, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, featured a mix of international and Brazilian artists, including Queen, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, The event was a massive success, attracting an estimated 1.4 million attendees over its 10-day run.

They were also both among the many musical artists who performed at the “Party at the Palace” concert held at Buckingham Palace in London on June 3, 2002, as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. The concert featured a star-studded lineup of British musicians and was watched by a large crowd both inside the palace grounds and on big screens in The Mall and around the Queen Victoria Memorial.

At the event included performances of numerous hit songs from the Queen’s reign. Ozzy Osbourne notably performed “Paranoid,” and ended his set with “God save the Queen”. Rod was also part of the lineup, and both he and Ozzy Osbourne participated in a grand finale performance of The Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” with other artists like Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, and Brian May. The concert was a major event, with an estimated one million people watching outside the palace and 200 million on television.

Ozzy and Rod also shared the stage at the Olympic Torch Concert in London on June 26, 2004, which was held to celebrate the Olympic flame’s journey to Athens. The concert, a free event in The Mall, also featured James Brown, Will Young, and Emma Bunton, among others

In 2020 when Ozzy announced he had Parkinson’s disease Sir Rod sent him a message saying

Dear Ozzy Osbourne,
Rotten luck mate, but well done coming forward. Now get out on the road and do what you do best.
Much Love,
Sir Rod

Budweiser Stage, Toronto, Canada

On Tuesday Rod left the The Peninsula hotel New York for Canada to play the Budweiser Stage in Toronto

Rod dedicated Forever Young to Ozzy Osbourne at the gig, Saying: “We’ll dedicate this one to you Ozzy, Forever Young.”

As pictures of Ozzy appeared on the screen, Rod sang his lyrics: “May the good Lord be with you down every road you roam. And may sunshine and happiness surround you when you’re far from home.

“And may you grow to be proud, dignified and true. And do unto others as you’d have done to you.

“Be courageous and be brave. And in my heart you’ll always stay.”

Micki Boragina was at the show to capture the night for us and here are the thoughts of Martin Heidt

Rod Stewart in Toronto: Tribute to Ozzy and enthusiastic fans

Some people in the Canadian metropolis of Toronto had obviously not quite gotten over the fact that Rod Stewart had to cancel some of his shows in Las Vegas almost exactly a month ago, and were only reassured when the 80-year-old took to the stage at Budweiser Stage in high spirits and in top physical condition.

‘It’s great to see the master back on stage,’ wrote the online portal ‘Parade,’ summing up a ‘brilliant evening’ with Sir Rod Stewart in Canada.
Indeed, Rod once again delivered an epic show, as Parade also called it. He kicked things off with ‘Infatuation’ and really got the Canadian fans going with ‘Tonight I’m Yours’ and ‘It’s A Heartache’.

As with his previous performances, the set list mainly comprised hits from six decades. In between, there were a few – let’s call them – goodies, such as ‘Ooh La La’ or ‘Rollin’ & Tumblin’ and ‘Mandolin Wind’.
Stewart has found a kind of ‘core repertoire’ for his US tour in terms of song selection. And lucky is the man who can still pull out hits like ‘Baby Jane’ or ‘Sailing’ from the bench.

The song selection in Toronto was also very much to the fans’ liking. ‘Wow, just a great concert,’ wrote one concertgoer. ‘What a show, it’s hard to believe Rod is already 80 years old,’ remarked another.
The emotional highlight of the evening: Rod Stewart dedicated his song ‘Forever Young’ to Ozzy Osbourne, who had passed away a few hours before his performance. ‘This one’s for you, Ozzy!’ Rod shouted into the microphone, and the entire arena sent a huge round of applause up to the heavens.

Sir Rod had already bid farewell to the ‘Prince of Darkness’ in an emotional post: ‘Bye bye Ozzy, sleep well my friend. I’ll see you up there – better late than never – Sir Rod Stewart.’

Set list:

1. Infatuation
2. Tonight I’m Yours
3. It’s A Heartache
4. It Takes Two
5. The First Cut Is The Deepest
6. Tonight’s The Night
7. Forever Young
8. Ooh La La
9. Young Turks
10. Maggie May
11. I’d Rather Go Blind
12. Rollin’ & Tumblin’
13. Lady Marmalade (Band only)
14. Mandolin Wind
15. You’re In My Heart
16. Have I Told You Lately
17. Proud Mary (Band only)
18. Love Train
19. Rhythm Of My Heart
20. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy
21. Hot Legs
22. Some Guys Have All The Luck

Quiz Time

And now it’s quiz time! Fritz Egner is waiting for you
Starting today, the exclusive set of questions about Rod Stewart, designed by Egner and his team in collaboration with STORYTELLER, is available.
You can now quiz yourself non-stop in the smartphone app ‘Quiz mit Fritz’ (Quiz with Fritz). In addition to the Stewart question pack on Sir Rod, there are also hundreds of questions from all areas of music history. Great fun for every music fan.
It should be mentioned again that there is an English and a German version, and you can easily switch between the two languages in the settings.
You can now download the latest version of QmF from the Google Play Store or Apple Store. Have fun playing.

Dear Rod…An Apology Out Now!

Earlier this week we told you about this interesting book by Paolo Hewitt, you may remember Paolo collaborated with John Hellier on the biography of Ronnie Lane titled “Can You Show Me A Dream: The Ronnie Lane Story”. back in 2017.

In this heartfelt story, Paolo Hewitt shares how the music of Rod Stewart and The Faces changed his life. Growing up in a children’s home, everything changed when he discovered A Nod Is As Good As A Wink, opening a door to a brighter world.

“The poster showed the band as a band of brothers, bound together by feather-cut haircuts, contagious smiles, and a collective sense of a mission to have fun.”

Told with warmth, humour, and honesty, Dear Rod…an apology is more than a fan letter — it’s a testament to music’s power to heal, and a long-overdue thank you to the man who helped Paolo find hope, identity, and light in the dark.

Dear Rod, An Apology is available now, Get your copy from..

https://www.sorrentobooks.co.uk/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLuHq1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFTenlpZzdLU1diSHlHdDVoAR7aH3LoR3mSMG3FKHEMY5sIkSWwA7UCHUxltSewNrmGUtxpjOxt9C6-DQNblg_aem_eBjDyJWhlXUv-vz4ew5iCw

Paolo also has a great story of young Rod..

Read Don’t End Up Like That Rod Stewart here..

https://whenmysoulwasinthelostandfound.substack.com/p/dont-end-up-like-that-rod-stewart

Back in New York

Thursday saw Rod and Penny back in New York

And Penny dressed in very proper attire visited Le bar Penelope

And Finally..

On a serious note, Brian Gibson is posting on some Rod sites about staying safe on social media and avoiding getting hacked or cloned by these disgusting fake sites we mentioned a few last week including  Heartland Melodies, Echoes of Country Stewart Music Hub, Movie Character and Soulful Rock Sessions and we fully back Brain,

Please stop sharing the rubbish they are posting, on most of the pictures you can clearly see it is not Rod but a AI version of him, and the stories are that far fetched they are clearly not true, by spreading them you are only putting yourself and fellow fans in danger of getting hacked

Amazingly even after posting this to try and keep fellow fans safe Brian got hate comments thinking he had posted them and that only goes to show some people are not paying attention…Please stay savvy and safe on social media.

On a lighter note if you are going to see Rod tonight at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT tonight, Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA on Saturday or PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte, NC on Tuesday have a great night and please send in any thoughts and photos for next weeks news ​[email protected] See you next week..