Main photo Bay City Rollers
Faces Early Steps
Faces Early Steps was released on Friday and once again the SMILER team is proud to play our small part in helping to get all these unique and un released tracks out to all Faces fans
The reviews so far have been great..Hope everyone has got a copy of either the vinyl or the cd..or both!
Halloween
We ended last week on Halloween night and we just had to show Erin Bonham’s Halloweem costume ..Rod Stewart Greatest Hits
This is not an AI photo it is a real picture Erin told SMILER this week “It was done with a good old fashioned costume, wig, and camera”.
Big Wedding Day
Rod and Penny started this week attending the wedding of Penny’s close friend, events curator Mark Aldridge on Saturday at Chelsea Old Town Hall.
Scottish League Cup Semi final
Rod, Alastair and Aiden watched Celtic book their place in the Scottish league Cup semi final at hampden Park with a dramatic 3-1 win over Rangers courtesy of goals from Johnny Kenny, Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand on Sunday afternoon.
Rod backs Danny Rohl
In a phone call to talkSPORT’s Rangers supporting Jim White Rod said: “Going back to the way we beat you on Sunday, although I must admit your boys played terrifically well. I do think they’ve found the correct manager now.”
White later asked Rod: “It still intrigues me to this day. When I lived up there it was the same, even when I live down here it’s the same, the Old Firm, they never fail to surprise us do they?,
“Brendan goes, back comes Martin [O’Neill]. At Rangers it looked like incoming was Steven Gerrard for a second time, then it was going to be Kevin Muscat, and now it’s Danny Rohl. At times some fans much stand back and scratch their heads.”
Rod replied: “We both love Scottish football. It may not be the greatest in the world but we love it, and I think that all adds to the drama.
“It’s a madness. Absolute madness. How many managers have Rangers had in the last few years? I actually love it, mate, I think the drama is like a Shakespeare play. It’s wonderful.”
Penny’s one off book
Organised by Matt Lee, Bensons bookbinding were thrilled to produce this unique one off binding of Penny’s book ‘Someone Like Me’ that Rod presented to her.
This week’s Rod Art
This week we feature cartoonist and illustrator Jonathan Cusick who has worked for many prominent clients, winning a number of awards along the way.
These include over 80 illustrations for the Radio Times, a weekly caricature for The Times‘ TV review, and the cover of the 2010 QI Annual. His cartoons have illustrated advertising campaigns for Cadbury sponsorship of Coronation Street on ITV, Virgin Money, and the Netflix series ‘House of Cards’ in the USA. He has also designed characters for a Hollywood film.
His caricature art has been widely exhibited, including; the National Portrait Gallery, London (in the BP Portrait Award), The Mall Galleries (with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters) , London’s Cartoon Museum. In 2005 a solo exhibition was held at the Coningsby Gallery, London. Since 2010 his work has been sold by Chris Beetles Gallery, London. His work has regularly been selected for the Association of Illustrators Images annuals, for which he has also been a judge, and also Luerzer’s Archive 200 best illustrators Worldwide. His work is in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
Rod’s good friend the late John Peel purchased one of Jonathan’s caricatures of himself and speaking to SMILER this week Jonathan told us “It was drawn after watching Rod’s Glastonbury performance this summer. The thought of him spending some quiet time with his trains in contrast to the big performance appealed to me.”
To see more of Jonathan’s fabulous work go to www.jonathancusick.com
Woman festive issue
Penny has given an exclusive interview to Woman magazine for the special festive edition where she spills the Stewart family Christmas secrets and traditions
Rock In Rio
Rod announced he will be playing Rock In Rio next year
I’m thrilled to be headlining Rock in Rio in Lisbon on June 27, 2026! Tickets are on sale now, grab yours via the link in bio. Can’t wait to see you all there
Rod will be the headliner for a special ‘Legends Day’ at Rock In Rio Lisbon when the festival is held over two weekends next June. Katy Perry and Linkin Park have already been confirmed as main acts for 2026, with Rod set to lead the veterans on June 27th.
And more One More Time dates..
Rod has also announced the extension of his One Last Time tour into 2026.
Featuring support from Howard Jones and Richard Marx on select dates, the first of these shows will take place March 13 in Uncasville, Connecticut. From there, he will travel across the U.S. and wrap this leg of the tour on Aug. 15 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Rod Stewart, One Last Time Tour, 2026 Dates:
March 13, 2026 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
April 15, 2026 – Knoxville, TN @ Food City Center %
April 17, 2026 – Huntsville, AL @ Orion Amphitheater %
April 19, 2026 – Houston, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion sponsored by Huntsman %
April 22, 2026 – Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP %
June 8, 2026 – Phoenix, AZ @ Mortgage Matchup Center ^
June 10, 2026 – Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Bowl ^
June 12, 2026 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre ^
June 15, 2026 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre ^
June 19, 2026 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre ^
July 31, 2026 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater ^
Aug. 1, 2026 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach ^
Aug. 9, 2026 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center ^
Aug. 11, 2026 – Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Arena ^
Aug. 15, 2026 – Kansas City, MO @ Morton Amphitheater ^
% with Howard Jones
^with Richard Marx
Sean in the ring
Rod’s eldest son Sean is fighting on the Misfits Boxing card in Nashville on Sunday
The crossover boxing world is gearing up for another explosive night as Misfits Boxing presents MF Duel: Cracra vs Fox on November 9, 2025, live from the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Tennessee. Broadcast exclusively on DAZN, the event promises a thrilling mix of seasoned combat athletes and rising influencers stepping into the ring for one of Misfits’ most stacked cards of the year.
Headlining the show will be the MFB Lightweight World Title bout between Cracra and Fox, a matchup that has generated serious buzz across social media. Both fighters have built reputations for their aggressive styles and confident personas, and fans expect fireworks when they finally square off in Nashville.
Adding to the spectacle is a major co-main event featuring former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski facing off against content creator Kelz. Arlovski’s entrance into the Misfits Boxing world adds star power and experience, while Kelz brings youthful energy and a loyal following, setting up a fascinating clash of eras and fighting styles.
The undercard features several entertaining matchups designed to keep fans on their feet all night:
Jully Poca vs Monica Medina – a women’s showdown with high-paced action expected.
Amir Anderson vs Dedrick Bell – two rising prospects looking to make their mark.
H2O vs Daniel Lugo – a stylistic clash between skill and power.
BDave vs Rod Stewart’s Son – one of the most talked-about celebrity bouts of the card.
J’Hon Ingram vs Joseph Rivas – a matchup between slick technique and raw aggression.
Argentinian King vs Spartan Jay – international flair meets YouTube rivalry.
Austin Dulay vs Jason Velez – a solid professional-level boxing contest to round out the card.
https://sidekickboxing.co.uk/mf-duel-cracra-vs-fox-misfits-boxing-returns-to-nashville
And finally ..
And talking of Christmas gifts there is plenty to put on your Christmas present list this year…If you fancy reading about The Bay City Rollers, Sir Rod is recommending Mania by Stuart Woody Wood, [See the main photo]
FEATURING A FOREWORD BY ROD STEWART
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mania-Tartan-Turmoil-Life-Roller
Early Steps
An absolute must is this gem
Take early steps back to 1960s London with the Faces! We’re excited to announce a 1xCD and 1xLP release featuring the band’s first, previously unheard recordings, out on October 31st.
Walk by the River Thames to hear the earliest recordings of the Faces captured in all their raucous glory. This release features the band’s first-ever recording session at Olympic Studios, as well as rehearsals from The Rolling Stones’ Bermondsey warehouse, all pulled from the Faces’ own cassette tapes.
Hear Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Kenney Jones, Ronnie Lane, and Ian McLagan before they took their first step!
https://faces.lnk.to/EarlySteps
SMILER calendar
On sale now but selling out fast!
Rod portrait prints
How about one of these stunning prints or even the original by artist Chris Burns
Each large 20″x16″ print is signed by the artist mounted and sleeved. and priced at £50 with free p&p
But not only that Chris would love a true Rod fan to own his original portraited and will sell it for a special price of £800
You can contact Chris on [email protected] or message him via https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067303029955&locale=en_GB
Penny’s book ..Someone Like Me
Penny’s memoir, Someone Like Me, was published in September 2025 and reached best-seller status. Amazon UK‘s product information page listed it as having a best-sellers rank of “677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)” and other strong category specific ranks, such as “9 in Motherhood (Books)” and “23 in Women’s Biographies” shortly after its release. And the good news is it’s on offer at £9.98 for a limited time on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Someone-Like-Me-Penny-Lancaster/dp/152668697X
“Dear Rod…an apology”
This is a perfect stocking filler if you have not a copy what are you waiting for and it’s only £3.50
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.
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
Get a copy here..
https://www.facebook.com/sorrentobooks?locale=en_GB
Wolfie’s Legend Edition whisky
A Christmas party is not complete without a bottle of Wolfie’s and you can still grab a bottle of the limited Legend Edition - a rare 9-year-old blended Scotch whisky with 40% malt content, aged in rich sherry casks. Created to honour the one and only Sir Rod Stewart.
Only 1,500 bottles exist. Each one wrapped in bespoke artwork featuring Rod himself, tied with a festival-inspired ribbon- a nod to the main stage moments that live forever.
Whether you’re raising a glass to the man, the music, or just your own rebellious spirit, this is not your everyday bottle – it’s simply legendary.
limited stock available https://wolfieswhisky.com/pages/whisky
See you next week…