Main photo thanks to Conor McKenna
On Saturday Rod and the band were in Athens
Rod payed a visit to Akropolis
SMILER photographer Marc Baulisch-Steines was at the show and here are the thoughts from Martin Heidt
Historic evening in Athens: Being there was everything
The Greeks are generally considered a very proud people and they like to stick to their traditions. This also applies to the Olympic motto ‘Being there is everything’ – and last night, this could certainly be applied to Sir Rod Stewart’s concert at the Telekom Centre in Athens, the city that hosted the first Olympic Games of the modern era in 1896.
For the British singer’s very first concert in the Greek metropolis, the approximately 12,000 tickets were sold out in advance and completely sold out after just a few hours. Lucky were those who managed to get a ticket and witness this historic evening. Here, ‘being there’ was everything, just like the Olympic ideal of yesteryear.
Those who were there experienced another top-class performance and were entertained to the fullest by a brilliant Sir Rod and his formidable band.
Stewart, who played his penultimate concert of the year, relied on tried-and-tested material for his set list at his premiere in Athens, but made a few changes compared to the concerts in recent days. He opened at the Telekom Centre with Robert Palmer’s classic ‘Addicted To Love’, followed by his 1970s hits ‘You Wear It Well’ and ‘Ooh La La’. ‘Tonight I’m Yours’ and ‘Infatuation’ were therefore rotated to the substitute bench, to use football jargon. ‘Twistin’ The Night Away’ was also replaced by ‘Rolling and Tumblin’’ from the Blood Red Roses album.
Of course, the Greeks didn’t have to do without the big hits like ‘Baby Jane’, ‘Maggie May’ or ‘Forever Young’ at their big κόμμα (party). Beloved ballads such as ‘Have I Told You Lately’ and ‘Tonight’s The Night’ also rang out in the shadow of the Acropolis, which sits on a limestone plateau about 150 metres above the Greek capital.
A historic event in a historic location – and that wasn’t the only reason the fans were completely ecstatic.
‘Rod gave an amazing performance – Forever Young,’ wrote one concertgoer on X (Twitter). And on Facebook, too, fans found it difficult to contain their enthusiasm. ‘It was an incredible evening, Rod Stewart was in top form, we had such a great time,’ said one audience member. ‘He just blew us away,’ said another fan.
And as was the case almost everywhere on this tour, the press joined in the chorus of enthusiasm. The online news portal ‘Ethnos’ called the singer ‘one of the last rock troubadours’ and attested that ‘his voice still has the power that once established the 80-year-old in the music world’. Ethnos summed up the evening at the Telekom Centre simply and aptly as ‘unique’. Being there was everything.
Set list:
Addicted To Love
You Wear It Well
Ooh La La
Havin’ A Party
It’s A Heartache
Rollin’ and Tumblin’
Forever Young
The First Cut Is The Deepest
Tonight’s The Night
Maggie May
I’d Rather Go Blind
Young Turks
Downtown Train
I’m Every Woman (band only)
I Don’t Want To Talk About It
People Get Ready
Have I Told You Lately
Proud Mary (band only)
Baby Jane
It Takes Two
Some Guys Have All The Luck
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy
Hot Legs
Sailing
Love Train
Security staff: Just gods at the barrier?
Security is a top priority these days, and rightly so, because all too often incidents or attacks occur at events or large gatherings. This category also includes concerts by international music stars such as Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney and Rod Stewart.
To protect visitors to these events, organisers also hire external security personnel to ensure that everything runs smoothly and that the audience is safe. This is not always successful, as recently demonstrated by the attack on a Jewish festival in Sydney, which left 16 people dead and 40 injured, and the attack on Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester in 2017, when a suicide bomber killed himself and 22 concertgoers and injured 116 others.
Fortunately, 99 per cent of events run smoothly and without major incidents, thanks in part to the security personnel on duty. But what if security staff take themselves too seriously and become harsh and aggressive towards the audience for no reason?
This is exactly what happened at Sir Rod’s performance in Athens on Saturday, but the singer on stage refused to put up with it and intervened.
At first, the evening proceeded as usual. Rod sang his songs, the fans in front of the stage and in the stands were having fun and enjoying a great evening, wanting to be as close to their idol as possible. At the front, directly in front of the stage, fans jostled to get the best view of Stewart, and also to take the perfect souvenir photo or maybe even high-five their idol. Completely normal occurrences in concert halls and arenas around the world.
In Athens, however, some security guards took their job a little too seriously and repeatedly instructed visitors in the front rows in a very rude and harsh tone to stay in their assigned seats.
Stewart did not miss this, and when the obligatory footballs were thrown at the start of ‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy’ and Rod wanted to throw a ball to a female fan, who was pushed away by an overzealous security guard, Rod finally lost his temper.
With a quick gesture, he instructed his band to stop playing and angrily confronted one of the security guards who had apparently intervened too rudely. ‘Get the hell out of the way,’ he snapped at the man. “You’re ruining the show for everyone. Get out of the way. We don’t need you here, all she’s doing is holding up a sign. That doesn’t hurt you, does it, mate?” Rod then threw the ball into the crowd and continued the song.
Unfortunately, such incidents are not isolated cases. Time and again, during Rod Stewart concerts (and certainly not only at those), security personnel take themselves far too seriously and overstep the boundaries of their job. The author of these lines remembers another case from England, when a Stewart fan was ‘arrested’ by security personnel and led away like a serious criminal, just because a roadie wanted to hand her a set list of the concert that had just ended from the stage.
We all agree that security personnel are definitely necessary at large events. But everything must remain within reasonable limits, of course. Nobody needs people who act all high and mighty just because they wear a security agency uniform. We wanted to find out how aware security companies are of this issue and to what extent they can ensure that their employees don’t overstep the mark when on duty. To this end, we spoke to Mick Gastorf, a former owner of a security company in Stuttgart. Mick, who got his name because his father is a big Rolling Stones fan, now lives in Portugal and also spends several months each year with his family in Thailand. We reached him there by phone this morning.
Storyteller: Are you aware of the problem that security guards often perform their duties in a rude manner, approaching or accosting visitors beyond the limits of what is permissible and being unfriendly or unhelpful?
Mick Gastorf: Yes, this is well known in the scene, but it’s hard to stop. The organiser has the right to enforce house rules and is responsible for the hall or arena. This means they are responsible for everything that happens at the event. They must brief the security company thoroughly and describe in detail how employees should behave in specific situations. This also includes pointing out that an artist likes to bring his fans onto the stage or, as in the case of Rod Stewart, that the artist interacts with his audience. This tells the security personnel how to behave in certain situations. But there are always employees, I like to call them the ‘super security’, who in such situations think they are God knows who and act like big shots. Unfortunately, you can’t rule that out 100 per cent. So you can’t rule out the possibility that something like that might happen.
ST: In this context, what do you think of Rod Stewart’s behaviour on Saturday in Athens? Can the artist’s intervention actually make a difference so that such incidents don’t become the norm?
MG: It’s difficult to say. Rod probably snapped at the wrong person. The organiser is always responsible for providing the security company with the relevant information. Individual employees can only act as they have been instructed to do.
ST: How can something like this be prevented?
MG: With specific instructions. We used to brief our employees accordingly and didn’t have to deal with such cases very often. I would have immediately removed an employee who was approached in the same way as our colleague in Athens and assigned them to another position in the arena.
ST: Keyword: briefing. How did you prepare your employees for events back then?
MG: We always prepared all employees for the event down to the smallest detail; that is also part of the duties of a security company. The briefing is usually also provided in writing and employees must confirm this with their signature. At least that’s how it is in Germany; I don’t know how other countries handle it. At the time, for example, we always communicated that someone might be brought on stage or that the artist might otherwise involve the audience in their show.
ST: What can visitors do, how should they behave if a security guard treats them rudely?
MG: Clearly, file a complaint. Every security guard must wear a card with their name on it or be able to identify themselves by name in some other way. And then you can file a specific complaint about them with the organiser. They will then contact the relevant security company.
Video: https://youtu.be/1lGrXinwz5o?si=PwfJaZnxNVsZMeIx
And the lucky lady who Rod threw the ball to was Danit Pantilat Vered who made the news world wide even if the British press did get the story wrong!
More than a band: the ‘family’ behind Rod Stewart By Martin Heidt
The 2025 tour year is drawing to a close and once again Sir Rod Stewart can look back on a year full of highlights, magnificent concerts, sold-out arenas and enthusiastic fans around the world. In short, the 2025 tour year was a complete success. A success built on a solid foundation. And that foundation is the fantastic band, the magnificent musicians who make every show a special highlight.
We want to take a closer look at this band and take you along on this little journey. When Rod Stewart takes to the stage, he is not ‘just’ accompanied by a backing band – he is backed by a well-rehearsed, highly musical team that has been making the difference night after night for years. A band that doesn’t just accompany, but carries, fires up, catches, shines – and thus plays a huge part in making the current tour so confident, so elegant and so rousing.
It is not only musical excellence that distinguishes this formation, but also something that you can feel even before the first note is played: cohesion. Former Rod Stewart saxophonist Katja Rieckermann once summed it up when she said that this band is ‘one big family – with “Papa Rod” at the helm’. And that’s exactly how it feels: respectful, warm, humorous, carried by mutual trust. This family atmosphere is not a PR image, but audible and visible – in glances, gestures, transitions and in the matter-of-factness with which everyone stands up for each other here.
Don Kirkpatrick (guitar) has been delivering that unmistakable rock “n” roll sound for years: tasteful, confident, with solos that never show off, but tell a story.
Kevin Savigar (keys) is the musical architect in the background – a long-time companion, arranger and calming influence. His signature has shaped Rod’s sound for decades.
David Palmer (drums) provides drive and stability: precise, unruffled, with a groove that gives the band freedom.
Curt Schneider (bass) lays the elastic foundation that makes an arena vibrate – song service in its purest form.
Emerson Swinford (guitar) complements the sound with modern clarity, energy and stylistic confidence.
J’Anna Jacoby Harrold and Andrea Young give the violins voice and soul: sometimes floating, sometimes driving, always emotionally charged.
Julia Thornton (harp/percussion) brings magical colours to the rock sound with her harp and percussion – unexpected, elegant, indispensable – a true power woman who captivates everyone, colleagues and audience alike.
Jimmy Roberts (saxophone), who even provided material for musical legends in between – somewhere between the tour bus, saxophone case and the persistent story that he temporarily turned his back on rock “n” roll for a burger joint – is now back where he belongs: on stage, with his sax, as the soul of the sound.”
Matt O’Connor, who has been part of Rod Stewart’s extended musical cosmos for many years, also plays a very special role. As a musician, musical director and organiser in the background, he ensures that all these individual voices merge into a great whole. He is one of those people who are not always in the spotlight – but whose work you can immediately hear and feel. Matt O’Connor exemplifies the professionalism and continuity that make this band so extraordinary.
Last, but by no means least, are the voices that touch the audience’s hearts:
Joanne Harper, Becca Kotte and Holly Brewer – backing vocals that are much more than just ‘background’. They bring harmonies, energy and personality to the fore and take responsibility when it matters.
This special family dynamic is particularly evident in the moments when Rod Stewart takes a quick break to freshen up and change his stage outfit: the band – especially the backing vocals – take over the stage with complete confidence.
With songs like ‘Proud Mary’, ‘I’m So Excited’ and ‘I’m Every Woman’, the intermission turns into a rousing mini-show. No downtime, no waiting – just singing along, dancing and laughing. The audience not only stays in good spirits, it remains euphoric.
In the end, this band is exactly what Katja Rieckermann described: one big family. With the charismatic ‘Papa Rod’ at the helm – and musicians who not only play world-class music, but are also there for each other.
And perhaps that is the secret of this tour:
Not perfection alone, but humanity.
Not just great songs, but genuine connection.
Rod shocks Alan Brazil with his claim about Rangers and Celtic
On Tuesday Rod phoned in Alan Brazil’s talkSPORT breakfast show and invited Alan and Ally McCoist to his Christmas party on Saturday and told Alan he would give him a lift home from the next old firm match on 3rd January but he shocked Alan when Ally McCoist asked whether Hearts could go all the way, Rod said, “Of course, they could. If we carry on like we carry on, I think you could actually overtake us,” and Brazil responded, “No, Rod.”
And as the new manager Wilfried Nancy searches for his first win against Dundee United tonight [Tuesday] Rod joined in on those criticising him.
What makes Nancy’s position even more difficult is the success that Martin O’Neill had before him, The Hoops legend won seven out of his eight matches after replacing Brendan Rodgers.
Rod said “I’m sure everyone’s tired of talking about it, but yes, I would love him back.
“I don’t think it’s going to happen. We’d have to pay Nancy off, and I don’t think that’s going to happen either.
“What I don’t understand is why he didn’t come in and continue the way that Martin O’Neill was playing. Against Hearts, we had three at the back, and the three of them were left-footed players.
“I’m raging. I’m raging.
“[O’Neill] is so loved. He’s also a gentleman, and he talks well. I don’t want to run this Nancy guy down, because I don’t know him.
“But I’ve seen him in interviews, and I can’t quite understand what he’s saying. And if he talks to the players like that, they certainly don’t know what he’s talking about.
“So there’s a breakdown there, for a start. Listen – we’ve got to get over [Dundee United]. We can’t just get rid of this guy by tomorrow.
“If we lose tonight, I don’t know what’s going to happen. Riots in our part of Glasgow.”
“Of course [Hearts could win the league.] If we carry on like we carry on, I think [Rangers] could actually overtake us.”
Etihad Arena Abu Dhabi
On Wednesday Rod and the band played the last concert for 2025 at the Etihad Arena Abu Dhabi Conor McKenna was at the show and met Rod and also got a great photo [See main photo] and Karl Hess got us some great shots of the show plus one of his friend Joanne Harper Here are the thoughts of Martin Heidt
Rod Stewart, the ruler of the desert
The 2025 concert year has come to an end – Sir Rod Stewart looks back on a very intense but also very successful twelve months.
Once again, the British singer invited his fans to dance yesterday evening – in Abu Dhabi, the metropolis of 2 million people on the Persian Gulf. Shortly before the start of the two-hour concert, the organiser announced: ‘We are almost sold out.’ Except for a few empty seats, the Etihad Arena, which can hold up to 18,000 spectators for concerts, was sold out.
At the beginning of the year, Stewart announced that he wanted to play 80 concerts in the year he celebrates his 80th birthday. And this goal was achieved, with every single show apparently bringing so much joy and fun that several dates have already been announced for next year. His band celebrated this milestone with a proud post on social media channels. ‘We made it! 80 concerts, 20 countries,’ the backing girls announced. A true milestone for everyone involved.
And Rod Stewart once again delivered the full programme at the end of the year. From ‘Infatuation’ to ‘Tonight I’m Yours’ to ‘Twistin’ The Night Away’ – the first few minutes set the tone for a ‘confident, generous performance’, as the news portal ‘The National News’ called it. Sir Rod didn’t allow himself or the audience a break until the blues hit ‘Rolling and Tumbling’; it was only during ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’ and ‘Tonight’s The Night’ that the fans, who were ‘dancing in the aisles and singing along fervently,’ (The National News), but immediately afterwards, the show continued in full force with ‘Forever Young’, ‘Baby Jane’ and ‘Young Turks’.
In Abu Dhabi, Stewart also strung together hit after hit, from ‘People Get Ready’ and ‘Have I Told You Lately’ to ‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy’ – this time, all the security staff remained calm – and the grand finale with “Sailing”, which ‘turned the arena into a single choir’ (The National News), and ‘Love Train’. Rod announced the last song of the evening as ‘a song by the O’Jays’, which was a fitting conclusion because the world needed peace.
The National News subsequently summarised: ‘We witnessed an artist who is completely comfortable with where he is and what he still has to offer.’ The portal attested to the singer’s ‘natural ability to share the spotlight,’ referring to the parts where his strong band took over the stage and kept the audience in good spirits with ‘I’m So Excited’ and ‘Proud Mary’ when the maestro briefly disappeared behind the stage.
Finally, The National News concluded that Abu Dhabi had experienced a ‘significant moment’ in music history on Wednesday.
Set list:
Infatuation
Tonight I’m Yours
Twistin’ The Night Away
It Takes Two
Rolling and Tumbling
The First Cut Is The Deepest
Tonight’s The Night
Forever Young
Baby Jane
Young Turks
Maggie May
I’d Rather Go Blind
Downtown Train
I’m So Excited (band only)
I Don’t Want To Talk About It
People Get Ready
Have I Told You Lately
Proud Mary (band only)
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy
Some Guys Have All The Luck
Hot Legs
Sailing
Love Train
This weeks Rod Art
This week we feature the stunning the artwork of Graphic Designer & Illustrator Marc Bello from Barcelona who did this superb portrait of Rod.
Of the painting Marc said “Another one [Rod] who has always been there in one way or another, both solo and with that amazing band alongside Ron Wood how The Faces were!, Although Rod Stewart’s beginnings form Jeff Beck’s band (The Jeff Beck Group), with Rod on vocals and Ron Wood on bass. Although before joining J. Beck’s band, Rod was already in a couple of groups. But it wasn’t until that tandem teamed up with R.Wood that when they left Jeff’s band (or this one kicked them out) they started that new (and great) previously mentioned project”.
To see more of Marc’s work go to https://www.instagram.com/crowes/
Last Chance to get the Wolfie’s in for Christmas
12pm tonight is the deadline to get your your favourite whisky in time for Christmas..Dont be late!!
And Finally ..
Are you all ready for Christmas? have you got the dustpans and brushes on the Christmas tree?
Speaking to Jenni Falconer on her Routes podcast Christmas special, Penny revealed the ongoing Christmas tree decorating battles with husband Rod explaining Rod likes to place dustpans and brushes among the baubles to wind her up. Speaking of their tree she said: “We kind of go through different colours for different years.” adding “annoyingly the boys know mummy likes it done a certain way”. And she explained how they have picked up Rod’s naughty tricks. “Like putting a dustpan and brush on the tree and then stepping back to see how mummy reacts.”
Penny also told Jenny “Rod’s very good at laying the table. We always have to have the Christmas crackers out. And the boys are good at going in and out of the kitchen and bringing in more servings, when you want, like, spuds, or a top up and things like that.
“But we do have a chef that comes in.”
Speaking to Hello, Penny also said the family’s fun will also be filled with children from across the pond as the star puts on her “Grandma” hat. She said: “I’m very, very excited because Grandma is coming into play here.
“We have two of Rod’s older children from America coming over to spend the whole Christmas with us, with their little ones. So we’ve got two two-year-olds and a nine-month-old, and I cannot wait.”
She went on: “I’ve booked a lot of Christmas experiences local to where we live in Essex, there’s a steam train ride, and there’s a lit-up garden area with Father Christmas and all of that kind of thing. I’ve dressed the bedrooms all up with candy canes… I can’t wait.
“I love to go to the Christmas carols on Christmas Eve and even join in on pulling some of the bells on the way in and singing ‘Silent Night’ with all the lights off and just the candles.”
Hope everyone has a brilliant and peaceful Christmas
See you next week…