Sir Rod Stewart has been forced to hit the brakes on his current tour after undergoing a heart procedure, with the 81-year-old rock legend now taking some much-needed time away from the stage to recover.
Itโs news nobody with a ticket wanted to hear, but this is one occasion where the gig can absolutely wait.
The legendary voice behind โMaggie Mayโ, โSailingโ, โDa Ya Think Iโm Sexy?โ and โYou Wear It Wellโ has cancelled his remaining scheduled US and Mexico performances after successfully undergoing a routine coronary stent procedure.
Thankfully, the important bit is this: Rod is recovering well. โค๏ธ
His representatives say the procedure was successful, he has already returned to normal daily activities, and doctors have advised him to spend the next four weeks recovering and rebuilding his fitness before getting back on stage. (NME)
๐ค THE SHOWS HAVE TO WAIT
Stewart had been due to continue performing through to 3 September 2026, with the affected schedule also including six Las Vegas residency performances planned for late August.
Those dates will now not go ahead while Sir Rod concentrates on his recovery. Ticket holders are being contacted by the relevant venues and promoters regarding cancellations and refunds. (The Independent)
It brings an abrupt halt to the latest stretch of Stewartโs enormous live career โ but considering the bloke has been tearing around stages for decades with more energy than people half his age, nobody can begrudge him putting his feet up for a few weeks.
Doctorโs orders are doctorโs orders, butt.
The feathered barnet will have to remain backstage for now.
โค๏ธ WHAT HAPPENED TO ROD STEWART?
The announcement follows Stewart recently postponing performances after what had initially been described as a โminor medical procedure.โ
His representatives have now confirmed that Stewart underwent a successful coronary stent procedure.
According to the statement announcing the cancellations, Stewart is doing well following the treatment and has resumed his usual everyday activities. However, the physical demands of performing mean heโs been advised to take approximately four weeks away from live shows to make sure heโs properly recovered. (People.com)
And letโs be fair here.
A Rod Stewart concert isnโt exactly the old boy wandering onto a stage, sitting in an armchair and quietly humming Sailing.
Even at 81, heโs still putting on proper shows.
Lights. Band. Big tunes. Strutting. Crowd interaction. That unmistakable gravel-coated voice blasting across arenas.
Touring is exhausting at any age, never mind when youโve been doing the rock โnโ roll thing since Britain still thought beige wallpaper was the height of interior design.
๐ฃ๏ธ ROD: โSORRY TO LET MY FANS DOWNโ
Stewart has expressed his disappointment at having to cancel the shows and thanked the medical team who treated him.
Most importantly, his message remains positive: he intends to get back to performing once heโs recovered. (People.com)
Thatโs the bit we like hearing. ๐ค
This doesnโt sound like somebody announcing the end.
It sounds like somebody being told:
โRod, behave yourself for four weeks.โ
Which, considering weโre talking about Rod Stewart, might actually be the hardest challenge of his entire career.
๐ธ THIS ISNโT NECESSARILY GOODBYE
Despite the current tour sometimes being described as a farewell trek, Stewart has repeatedly made it clear that stepping away from large-scale touring doesnโt necessarily mean heโs finished with music or performing altogether.
The current tour, which originally launched in 2024, has been billed as his final major tour, but Stewart has spoken enthusiastically about continuing to make music. Earlier comments have also indicated that he has been working on further recording projects. (jonesbeach.com)
And why wouldnโt he?
This is Rod bloody Stewart.
Retirement was always going to be less โquiet slippers by the fireโ and more โmaybe Iโll just make another record and accidentally book 40 gigs.โ
His career has stretched across more than six decades, from his early days through The Jeff Beck Group and Faces to one of the most commercially successful solo careers in British music history.
Then came the songs.
โMaggie Mayโ.
โYou Wear It Wellโ.
โSailingโ.
โTonightโs the Nightโ.
โThe First Cut Is the Deepestโ.
โHot Legsโ.
โDa Ya Think Iโm Sexy?โ
โYoung Turksโ.
And thatโs barely scratching the surface.
Few voices in rock are as instantly recognisable.
You could play half a second of Rod Stewart singing through a broken supermarket tannoy during a thunderstorm and somebody would still go:
โThatโs Rod!โ
๐๐ค
โค๏ธโ๐ฉน HEALTH COMES FIRST, MUN
Naturally, whenever a musician of Stewartโs age undergoes a heart procedure, fans are going to worry.
But the information released following the procedure has been reassuring: the treatment was successful and Stewart is recovering.
So while losing the shows is disappointing โ particularly for fans whoโve booked tickets, hotels, flights and probably spent three weeks deciding which Rod Stewart shirt gets the honour โ this is bigger than any concert.
There will always be another stage.
There will always be another spotlight.
There will always be another opportunity for thousands of people to belt out โMaggie Mayโ after several drinks while mysteriously believing they can sing exactly like Rod Stewart.
Right now, thereโs only one priority:
Get yourself properly recovered, Sir Rod.
๐ค THE RIFF REPORT SAYSโฆ
Rock โnโ roll has spent decades convincing us that the show must always go on.
Sometimes, though, the show absolutely shouldnโt go on.
At 81 years old, Rod Stewart has already given music fans a lifetimeโs worth of songs, performances, outrageous outfits, legendary haircuts and choruses capable of turning an entire arena into the worldโs biggest pub singalong.
Missing a few gigs isnโt going to change any of that.
So from all of us here at The Riff Report Blog, weโre sending Sir Rod our very best wishes for a smooth and speedy recovery. โค๏ธโ๐ฉน
Rest up.
Listen to the doctors.
Put the microphone down for a bit.
And when youโre readyโฆ
weโll see you back under those stage lights. ๐ค๐ฅ
Because you can cancel a tour.
You can postpone a gig.
But apparently convincing Rod Stewart to actually retire might require considerably more paperwork.
Get well soon, Rod. ๐คโค๏ธ
๐ธ THE RIFF REPORT BLOG
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Zero Apologies. ๐๐ค
Whatโs your favourite Rod Stewart song or live memory? Get involved and let us know โ and join us in wishing one of British rockโs most unmistakable voices a speedy recovery. โค๏ธโ๐ฉน๐ถ
