Rod Stewart has grown from a wild man of rock into an elder statesman whose not afraid of filling in potholes himself. He did have a small complaint about his Glastonbury slot though: “I just wish they wouldn’t call it the tea time slot,” he told the BBC, “That sounds like pipe and slippers, doesn’t it?”
He also had an issue with the set time and negotiated an increase from 75 minutes to 90, but “Usually I do well over two hours so there’s still a load of songs we won’t be able to do.” There’s a plan: “But we’ve been working at it. I’m not gonna make any announcements between songs. I’ll do one number, shout ‘next’, and go straight into the next one… I’m going to get in as many songs I can.” He’s here for the music.
Rod comes on to the sounds of bagpipes, dressed like an Italian prince with a co-ordinated and impeccably dressed band. After ripping into his opener he asks us to enjoy it and says music brings us together, we need music and… well we can’t help wonder if that’s a subtle comment on what we’re dimly aware has kicked off in the outside world over the last 48 hours. Or he’s just a cool singer. Who knows.
We do have to tackle a question. Rod always had a powerful but flexible use, not just a raw gravel but the ability to make it nuanced. Today, with an energy level that quite frankly we in the crowd don’t have, Rod can still give it full beans, but the voice is a little faded from his peak. This doesn’t diminish our enjoyment, and his charismas and ability to put on a show is unchanged.
After a lot of Glastonbury sets by emerging stars, something like Rod Stewart can be a shock. The man’s got a huge back catalogue of hits and true to his word we go on, we just go on, hit after hit after hit. Some are more famous than others – everyone in the field knows The First Cut is the Deeper – but it’s a reminder that Rod was completely right to push for more time: can you imagine having to cut that potential set list down? He really does shout ‘Next!’ and dive into the next.
Near the end there’s a fantastic moment where Rod takes a left turn. He brings the string section out to dance, brings out footballs which he and the backing singers punt into the crowd, then Rod steps back and the backing singers come forward and do Lady Marmalade on the forward staging. Rod reappears in a bright pink suit which only a few people could pull off. Then the guests start.
First is Michael Eavis, wheeled onto the stage by Emily before a version of I Don’t Want To Talk About it. Then Mick Hucknell, yes, that Mick Hucknall, who is also still rocking a full head of iconic hair. The backing singers come forward again and absolutely rocket out Proud Mary, then Rod comes back in a bright green suit accompanied by Ronnie Wood and… well he announces Lulu, there’s an awkward pause and it turns out she’s for a later song! Everyone dons Celtic shirts, and after Ronnie leads on guitar for a number Lulu finally appears dressed completely in white.
Then it’s time to end, which means it’s time for his deeply touching version of I Am Sailing, still tugging those heartstrings. Many years ago, a journalist criticised A set Rod did at Glastonbury for being too serious. This afternoon (but not tea time), Rod’s come out in full fun and given us a party.