Photo: BAUER STARS & STORIES
- Rod Stewart in an interview
- "My wife taught me to think positively"
- "Dear God meant it very well with me"
- "I try to age with dignity"
- "I regret nothing"
Rod Stewart in an interview
Rod Stewart talked to us about his tumultuous family life, getting older and revealing why his current album "Another Country" is the most personal of his nearly 50-year career.
One of the greatest entertainers of all time finally comes back tour: In May and June, Rod Stewart is on stage five times in Germany. The fans can look forward to unforgettable world hits - from "Sailing" to "Do ya think I'm sexy" to "Rhythm of my heart" - and songs from his new CD "Another Country". We met the rock star in London for an exclusive interview.
Rod, "Another Country" sounds like a very personal album. Many of the new songs are about love and family. Is that because you first recorded the CD completely at home?
At my age, you want to be as personal as possible. I have nothing left to lose. The listener finally feels, whether one is honest in his songs or not. The predecessor album "Time" was a huge success. In England, it even climbed to # 1 on the charts. I received a lot of positive feedback from my fans. It touched me deeply how well the songs arrived. That's why I wanted to make the following album just for my fans.
Are not you constantly distracted when working at home and father of two little boys (Alastair, 10 & Aiden, 4)?
No not at all. All you have to do is finish work until the kids come home from school or kindergarten! (laughs) We recorded in my library. I closed the doors and nobody was allowed inside. Most of the lyrics I wrote only when the music was in the box. I estimate that I spent a third of my life in recording studios. Usually I sat and waited, could not do anything. Or I went around the corner to the next pub. It is a real luxury to be able to record at home. I wish I could have done that 30 years ago!
Did you have fixed working hours in your home studio?
Yes, we were pretty strict. We usually started around 10 o'clock in the morning - that would not have been possible 30 years ago (laughs). We sat together until we had a song. There was not a single day when we said, "Today we do not feel like it, we can not think of anything."
The title song "Another Country" is about being separated from the family. How do you deal with such separations?
"Another Country" is written from the perspective of a soldier who is away from home. I admire our soldiers who have to fight in foreign countries like Afghanistan. I tried to put myself in their position. The songs I'm most proud of are "Batman, Superman, Spiderman, " "Love is, " and "We can win." The latter is not just about football fans, but about sports fans in general. It's about the excitement and excitement of how your team will play. I wanted to write a football anthem all my life - now I've finally done it!
In "Another Country" comes the line "You're the girl of my dreams, the mother of my children" (German: "You are the girl of my dreams, the mother of my children") . Could this not also be addressed to your wife Penny (44)?
Theoretically it could - but as I said, it's a song about our soldiers. But that is the beauty of music: anyone can interpret it for himself, as he would like.
"My wife taught me to think positively"
How long have you been maximally separated from each other with penny?
Actually never more than a week. Alaistar, my ten-year-old son, always finds it funny when I'm on the road. When we call then he calls me "Rod Stewart" - at home I'm "Daddy" for him. That's really cute!
They will soon be on tour to Germany. Are you still looking forward to playing live?
Yes, very much. I gave three concerts in Brazil in the fall. I've been playing with Elton John again for a long time. It was a great experience! Then I flew with the entire family on vacation to Hawaii. All children together, only one was missing - for the first time in my life! All Stewarts plunged into the waves together. We had so much fun! It was wonderful. God has meant well in life with me!
How often do you manage to rally the whole family?
Not often enough. Unfortunately! My big kids are all pursuing their own careers today. Liam (21) is a professional hockey player in Kansas, Renée (23) is a ballet dancer, Ruby (28) has decided to live as a musician, Kimberly (36) enjoys her life as a mother, my two little sons Alastair (10) and Aiden (4) go to school ... I am very happy that everyone is doing so well!
Do you think that you missed important steps in the life of your older children because you were always on the road as a rock star?
With my two oldest children Kimberly and Sean (35), I certainly missed a lot because at the time I was working hard to build my career. Today I plan every next career step around my children. I want to spend as much time as possible with the family.
The song "Batman, Superman, Spiderman" on your current CD sounds like a lullaby. Are you singing your little sons to sleep?
No, not really - unfortunately! My two little sons miss me very much when I'm on the road. I know that they listen to my music in the morning before they go to school. I think that's very cute.
Does the two already have musical talent?
They like to sing and have a feeling for music. But Ruby is the only one in the family who is a true musician. She has the super pretty and has the most wonderful voice ever! She also works as a model. She will be performing with me in Las Vegas. I am very happy about that! She will sing her own song first and then we sing together "Forever young".
"Dear God meant it very well with me"
In the "Drinking Song" you sing: "I'm glad I did what I did when I did it. I'm glad I said I said it " I'm glad I did what I did when I did, I'm glad I said what I said when I said it. ") Do you regret anything in your life?
No! There is absolutely nothing that I regret in life! Maybe I should have married Penny earlier - that's the only one. Life was good to me. I would never complain about anything
There were also serious crises in your life: About 15 years ago, when they contracted thyroid cancer ...
That's something I tried two years ago to clarify in my autobiography. Yes, I had a thyroid tumor - but it was not cancer! The doctors took out the suspicious tumor and everything was fine. I do not want anyone to think that poor Rod had to fight the cancer. I have never been to chemotherapy or anything like that.
The operation, however, was dangerous to your voice!
Yes, she was. The surgeon told me after the surgery that the tumor was only a few millimeters away from my vocal cords. Just a tiny cut off - and my voice would have gone forever! The operation took place in Los Angeles - just imagine there would have been an earthquake at that moment!
Did you worry that you could lose your voice?
I had no panic attacks in the run up to the surgery. I had a CT, was operated on Fridays and was able to go home on Mondays. I was able to speak again shortly afterwards - but when I tried to sing, there was no voice. That was scary then. For a moment, I actually thought, "That's it! My career is over! "I trained my voice and it took half a year to sound the same again.
What would you do if your voice went from one day to the next and you could not sing anymore? To retire?
No, I would become a landscape architect! I do not like gardening myself, but I love gardening. I know exactly what a beautiful garden should look like. That's why it has always been my plan B! But even planting anything would not be too much - neither do I have a green thumb, nor do I like having dirt under my fingernails.
Do you live very healthy?
Yes, I pay attention to myself. I watch what I eat, have a personal trainer for 15 years. From time to time I also treat myself to a greasy sandwich with bacon (laughs). I think that everything you eat in moderation and enjoyment does you good too.
What about alcohol?
Every evening I drink one to two glasses of white wine and a glass of red wine. No more and nothing else. I think a good meal always includes a good wine! I never drink during the day - unless I'm on vacation. Or, if I look at a football game with my friends and we take a quick trip to the pub. But that does not happen that often.
falseAre there things that you are selfishly doing for yourself today?
I am no longer the type to celebrate in a hilarious mood. I feel flattered when my children ask me if I want to go out with them. My 21-year-old son asks his 70-year-old father if he's going to a disco with him - where is that today? If I was a simple plumber or construction worker, they probably would not ask me. My children already know that they will get the best table when I'm there (laughs). The only thing I really do for myself today is that I'm pulling myself back into my railroad room. I have been collecting model trains for many years. My room is under the roof and it is huge. I can totally lose myself there. Sometimes I think I just sit there for two hours and bastle - until Penny calls me and says, "Darling, you've been up there for seven hours now. Your children were here to see you, but they are already gone! "As far as my hobby is concerned, I'm really selfish.
As a solo artist, do you automatically have a particularly big ego?
I'm afraid so. I can be very selfish from time to time - if you're in rock business for as long as I am, you'll be like that. For most of my life I have had people around me who have taken everything from me. For example, I would not know how to check in for a flight. That's terrible! A sin! The show business makes you lazy!
Never have any money with you because somebody always pays you?
No, I always have money with me! I pay myself too!
"I try to age with dignity"
In 2015 you turned 70. How do you perceive aging?
I have never really consciously been aware of getting older. Only when I had to give up playing football did age hit me like a slap in the face! I had to stop playing the team two years ago. At the age of 68 I stood on the field for the last time. That's when I thought for the first time: "Now I'm probably getting old." I was very disappointed. I miss the football games so much! I miss training every week, meeting the boys and being in the field. There is a big gap today! Apart from that, I try to age in dignity - as long as you can say that about yourself (laughs). The music business keeps you young in spirit. My two little sons are a fountain of youth for me. I see that many men of my age are less comfortable with aging than I am. They complain and complain that everything is getting worse. I think that does not help! We are all getting older! At some point, we all end up underground. The only advice I can give is to enjoy life and have as much fun as possible. I enjoy every second of my life!
"I regret nothing"
How old - or young - do you feel in the heart?
Oh, that's a tough question (laughs). Sometimes I behave as irresponsibly and childishly as a twelve-year-old boy. I can not name a number. I still physically do all that was possible 30 years ago. The only thing that can not be done is playing football. I had four operations on one knee, one on the other, and another on my ankle. There were concerts where I limped across the stage. I had to quit the sport so I can give 100 percent back on stage.
Do you feel fit enough for the stage today?
Yes, everything is fine today. Playing soccer also meant stress. I do not do as much action on stage today as I used to and focus more on singing. People do not come to my concerts because they expect me to jump over the stage permanently.
How long would you like to be on stage?
As long as possible and people want to see me!
Johannes Heesters was still on stage at the age of 107. Could you imagine that?
107? My God, I suddenly feel totally young! Why not? I could always go on stage and sing the songs from "The great american songbook". These songs are nice to sing and you do not have to move much. Nobody expects a show-spectacle. But 107 ... I do not know if I'm going to be that old (laughs).
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I have no idea! And if you had asked me that question ten years ago, I would have given you the same answer! I hope that in ten years' time I will still do what I do best: singing.
falseWhat is your recipe for a happy life?
It's not easy to always stick to it, but as long as you think positively, you're also a happy person. You must not let negative thoughts into your life. Personally, that's not easy for me, because I'm not necessarily a classic optimist. My wife keeps reminding me to see the positive. None of us is always happy - that's in the nature of man. We have to go through all the depths to appreciate the heights.
Did Penny teach you to always see life from its positive side?
Yes, she helped me a lot. I do not know where she takes this optimism from. She told me, "Fill your head with positive thoughts so that the negative will find no place in it at all!" But that's not the only thing she taught me in life. She showed me how important it is to communicate with each other as a couple. I have never been a particularly good listener. While a woman persuaded me, I strayed with my thoughts. Today I know that you also have to listen to your partner.
Do you still have love tips?
Yes: Never quarrel with your wife late in the evening after drinking something! No way! If something bothers you, save it until the next morning.
Is your wife your best friend?
Definitely! Without any doubt! Of course, our friendship is different than the one I have with my football friends, but I can talk to her about anything. Besides, she is also a football fan from time to time: I took her to the match Scotland vs Germany - and she was absolutely thrilled!
Do you sometimes annoy your wife with your football addiction?
I am afraid (laughs). Football is always on TV. And in the car, I like to turn on the sports channel, where no music is playing, but is spoken all day exclusively about football. Penny hates that! This is actually the only major issue that we have in everyday life: the radio program in the car! (Laughing).
Rod Stewart live 2016:
17.05.2016, Dusseldorf, ISS Dome
20.05.2016, Munich, Olympiahalle
22.05.2016, Leipzig, Arena
31.05.2016, Berlin, Mercedes-Benz Arena
1.06.2016, Stuttgart, Hans-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
Interview: Christine Staab for BAUER STARS & STORIES
