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Sir Rod Stewart has opened up about his gruelling schedule after being forced to cancel a run of concerts in the US due to battling the flu. The star is now gearing up to take on the headlining role at Glastonbury, a real achievement for the singer, who turned 80 back in January. He has already spent half the year on a worldwide tour that has seen him perform in 10 countries with over 41 concert dates. However, the Maggie May singer admits it has not been plain sailing, as he has been busy juggling multiple projects outside of his performing commitments.
While in conversation with Zoe Ball on BBC Sounds, he revealed that he is working on a long-awaited documentary about his time in the band Faces, which was comprised of fellow rock stars Ronnie Wood, Kenney Jones, and Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall. While also working on new albums, he has even begun writing a book about model trains, which he is an avid collector of.
He shared: “I’m working so bl***y hard, because I have got two albums in the go, two documentaries. I was supposed to write a book about my model railway, but I had to drop it because I just haven’t had the time.”
The 80-year-old singer, who last performed on the Pyramid Stage in 2002, was announced as the official headliner for the Legend’s slot for the iconic festival at Worthy Farm, Somerset.
Aside from having the flu, Sir Rod was also diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016, after secretly battling it for two years, and he still has to undergo regular checks.
He told Radio Times: “I don’t worry any more than anybody else. But you can keep yourself fit. I’m surprised at how many men are so scared of going to the doctor’s. I had prostate cancer and I tell people: go to the doctor – finger up the bum, no harm done.”
Sir Rod was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2000 before he battled prostate cancer in 2016. The rock legend revealed in 2019 that he had been given “the all clear”.
He said to The Mirror, “No one knows this, but I thought this was about time I told everybody. I’m in the clear now, simply because I caught it early. I have so many tests.”
Rod added, “If you’re positive, and you work through it and you keep a smile on your face… I’ve worked for two years, and I’ve just been happy, and the good Lord looked after me.”
He then urged his fans to go and get checked, “Guys, you’ve got to really go to the doctor.”