Secrets of Rod Stewart's Glasto set after the rocker's 'military style' build-up
Sir Rod Stewart is set for another epic Glastonbury Festival performance with his 90-minute set at Worthy Farm on Sunday said to be setting the rocker back £300,000
As backstage requests go, it's usually all about the booze, drugs and girls for most rockers. But not so for Sir Rod Stewart.
Taking to the Pyramid stage on Sunday afternoon at Glastonbury for the coveted Legends slot, the star is adopting a slightly less rock 'n roll approach. In fact, the 80-year-old is taking his trusted personal trainer with him to Worthy Farm to ensure he is in tip-top shape for the show.
With an estimated 100,000 watching him at Worthy Farm - and millions more on the TV - the rocker knows the stakes are high. Especially so after suffering a bad bout of flu which saw him cancel a string of shows in Las Vegas.
Insiders say Rod has thrown himself into the task with vigour, with one saying: 'He is fully-fit and raring to go. His trainer works wonders so it was a no-brainer to have them at the festival.'
In fact, the star has gone to military-like lengths to ensure the show goes without a hitch. Already super-fit from swimming lengths in his pool four times a week, the star has been on a period of vocal rest to ensure his raspy voice is firing on all cylinders.
Says our mole: 'It's been quite hard as Rod is a chatterbox, but he knows he needs to preserve what's his biggest weapon…his voice.'
Rehearsals have been taking part this week with his whole band at a secret location, and insiders say Rod's back to his best. The set-list is a closely-guarded secret but Rod has vowed to deliver a hits-packed 90minute set including Maggie May, Sailing and Downtrain Train.
Three special guests have been pencilled in with the pick of the bunch being Rolling Stones guitarist and old pal Ronnie Wood for an incredible Faces reunion. Sir Rod - who admits he can't remember playing the festival last in 2002 - may even pay an emotional tribute to Ukraine during the set.
The star - who has housed refugees from the country in the UK - may sing his 1991 anti-war song Rhythm of My Heart, accompanied by an image of an Ukrainian flag.
A source said: 'Rod is putting the finishing touches to the set which is a little shorter than his usual Vegas shows, so it remains to be seen what makes the cut.'
Wife Penny has been a constant watching the band go through the motions at rehearsals. In fact, the whole Stewart family are fully getting into the festival spirit.
While Rod, Penny and the band are staying at a £1000-a-night hotel in Bath, three of his children including 19-year-old Alastair and Ruby are camping. The teenager - who had to buy his own tickets as Glastonbury don't offer any freebies - seems to take after his dad when it comes to enjoying a knees-up
He was spotted partying until 5am on Friday morning with friends in the hedonistic Shangri-La area of the festival site. A source said: 'Rod is quite happy to let the kids get on with it and is delighted they are getting stuck into the festival.'
But rather than having to go back to a tent afterwards, his children are staying at the ultra-lavish Pop-Up Hotel, which is just outside the festival gates. With a restaurant, full-size swimming pool, and helipad, one its 10–person suites costs just shy of £30,000 for the duration of the festival.
It's not known if Sir Rod is picking up the tab, but the whole cost of his Legends performance is already setting him back a staggering £300,000. This includes flying over from the US by private jet, as well as all his band too, who are coming over in premium economy.
Then there is the cost of transporting the set and all the equipment. It's little wonder the £120,000 he is earning is not touching the sides.
Says a source: 'He is running at a big loss but it's such a prestigious opportunity, he doesn't mind.'
Unlike Neil Young who has banned the BBC from live-streaming his Saturday headline slot, Rod's set will be live-streamed by the BBC and is a flagship plank of their wall-to-wall coverage. But Neil and Rod will at least have one thing in common other than musical pedigree……model railways.
Rod often takes sections of his model railway set on tour with him to pass the time, often booking extra hotel rooms where he installs them on a large table. While he is keeping the trains at home this time, he can at least chat to Saturday night headliner Neil about the subject.
A source said: 'Rod will hope that Neil will stick around to the Sunday. They are both train obsessed.'
Instead of trains backstage, Rod will have a static bike to warm up his limbs ahead of the performance, as well as a massage. Rod's rider usually entails a large bottle of rum and four bottles of Coca-cola, and he will always enjoy a quick drink before any show.
A source said: 'Rod is getting a bit more booze in this time around but the plan, at the moment, is to take the party back to the hotel afterwards. But you never know, Rod may stick around on site but the chances are he will want to get off.'
Penny is expected to be side of stage for the performance, which is also expected to feature Rod wearing a series of flamboyant outfits.
The insider added: 'She is Rod's biggest fan at the best of times and is just bursting with pride that he will be one of Glastonbury's biggest draws.'
Do ya think I'm sexy? Penny certainly does…
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