By The Riff Report Blog โ loud, proud, and possibly holding back tears during โSailingโ ๐ฅฒโ
Well, Glasto 2025 threw us another curveball, butt! When it was announced that Sir Rod Stewart would be gracing the Pyramid Stage, some of us were buzzing for a โMaggie Mayโ singalongโฆ and others were wondering if the old rocker still had the juice. But what we got wasโฆ a mixed bag wrapped in Union Jack trousers and doused in nostalgia ๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ง
So hereโs the burning question:
Was Rod Stewart actually past his prime, or did the sound crew drop the mic โ literally? ๐๏ธ๐ฅ
๐ถ THE SETLIST: GOLDEN OLDIES OR DAD DISCO?
Sir Rod didnโt mess about โ he came armed with the big guns.
We’re talking:
- โDo Ya Think Iโm Sexy?โ (mixed reaction from the front row ๐ )
- โForever Youngโ (somewhat ironic)
- โThe First Cut is the Deepestโ (and so was the cringe during the key change)
- And of course, the emotionally explosive โSailingโ โ which got even the rowdiest bucket-hat lads crying into their lukewarm ciders ๐ญ๐บ
Song choice? Solid. Delivery? Ermโฆ letโs unpack that ๐
๐๏ธ VOCALS: GRAVEL OR GRAVEYARD?
Right, letโs address the haggis in the room ๐ฅด โ
Rodโs voice wasn’t at its stadium-shaking best. That iconic raspy snarl? It teetered between charmingly weathered and worryingly wheezy.
There were missed notes, some awkward pacing, and a couple of moments that genuinely had the crowd glancing around like, โIs it me, or is this a bit off?โ
But hereโs the kicker: it wasnโt just Rod.
Everyone in the field started whispering the same thing by the third song:
โThe sound is shite.โ ๐
๐๏ธ SOUND ENGINEERING: WHO UNPLUGGED ROD?
Weโve seen some dodgy mixes over the years, but this? This was a clown show on the dials ๐คก
- Vocals too low during the openers.
- Guitar lost in the mud mid-set.
- Back-up singers out of sync, probably because the monitors were feeding them a different gig entirely.
- And the bass? More like no bass until someone clearly panicked and cranked it โ and then it sounded like Rod was singing from inside a subwoofer. ๐
Some fans near the Pyramid claimed it sounded lushโฆ but back by the bar? It was Glast-on-burry. ๐๐งป
๐ง THE AGE THING: IS IT TIME TO HANG UP THE SEQUINS?
Letโs be honest โ Rod Stewart is 80. EIGHTY. And he’s still out here belting classics in front of 100,000 people like he owns the bloody place. Thatโs rock โnโ roll royalty right there ๐๐ธ
But fair play โ age does catch up. This wasnโt Rod at his finest. But to call him “past it”? Nah, butt. Thatโs lazy.
What we saw was a living legend battling through a brutal mix and still getting thousands of people swaying in the drizzle. That ain’t nothing to sneer at.
๐ข CROWD VERDICT: A MIXED BAG OF BOOS AND BALLADS
๐ฃ๏ธ โBit rough around the edges, but I still got goosebumps during โSailingโ.โ โ Linda, 42, Newport
๐ฃ๏ธ โSound was appalling โ Rod deserved better.โ โ Jamal, 29, Leeds
๐ฃ๏ธ โI love him but he shouldโve headlined the Radio 2 tent, not Pyramid.โ โ Chloe, 25, Bristol
๐ฃ๏ธ โDidnโt care, had glitter on and danced my arse off.โ โ Gaz, 38, Bridgend
๐ง FINAL THOUGHTS โ SO, WAS ROD COOKED?
Letโs break it down, riff-heads:
๐ธ The Bad:
- Vocals didnโt land like they used to
- Mix was borderline sabotage
- Stage energy was more Sunday brunch than Saturday night fever
๐ธ The Good:
- Iconic songs that still hit emotionally
- Charisma by the truckload (he is Rod Stewart, after all)
- A crowd that, despite everything, still sang their hearts out
Verdict?
๐ Rodโs still got the soul, but his set was kneecapped by dodgy tech and an unforgiving main stage mix. Give him a proper sound check and a twilight slot, and heโd still blow your glitter socks off ๐งฆโจ
What did you think, Glasto warriors?
Was it a nostalgic dream or a croaky nightmare? Hit us up in the comments or shout us out on socials using:
๐ฏ #RodAtGlasto
๐ฏ #DoYaThinkImMixedBadly
๐ฏ #ForeverYoungForeverFeedback
๐ฏ #SoundGuysGetAFan
Until next time โ keep it loud, proud, and never trust a quiet sound desk! ๐ค๐
Written by The Riff Report Blog โ the only place where a microphone slip becomes a mosh pit tale. ๐ฅ๐ฅ
