S Poddar
Legendary rocker Rod Stewart, 79, is forced to scrap more of his tour dates after having to miss the supposed milestone performance of 200 Las Vegas residency shows earlier in the week. This is the second time this week that Stewart has pulled out of a concert at the last minute due to illness. His team later confirmed on Friday that he would not be able to perform for a third time on Saturday night, citing ongoing illness.
His team commented that the star is still recuperating from a summer bout of COVID-19 to his fans. Both he and his fans have been taken aback by these recent cancellations, as he was supposed to finish his incredibly long-running “The Hits” show at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Due for closure with a series of shows, culminating in his 200th performance after its 13-year residency, Stewart had to pull out at the last minute and expressed his deep regret and disappointment.
He took to his social handles and issued an apologetic note to his fans for inconveniencing them with the cancellation. “Most people can work with strep throat, but obviously not me,” he shared. “I’m absolutely gutted. I’ve been looking forward to this concert for so long. My deepest regrets for any inconvenience this has caused.” He added that he is looking forward to returning in 2025 and hopes to see his fans there.
According to the NHS, strep throat may additionally show up with a sore throat, a rash, feelings of nausea, vomiting, and muscle aches. Typically, this isn’t too serious and can be treated easily with antibiotics. However, it can have quite a problem for a performer like Stewart, for whom his voice happens to be his very finest instrument.
Despite this health setback, he said it hadn’t damped spirits completely. Only hours before he was set to take the stage, he revealed to fans that he was returning to Las Vegas for a series of encore shows next spring. He captioned the video of his performance at the venue on Instagram: “Vegas, I’m having too much fun for this to end, so we are coming back for an encore!”. The encore shows are set for March 12-22 and May 29-June 8, 2025.
The cancellations come just months after Stewart confessed that he is acutely aware of his own mortality. During a rather introspective moment, the singer, a legendary artist since 1964, admitted that his “days are numbered,” but he stressed that he is not afraid. “We have all got to pass on at some point, so we are all in the same basket,” he said. “I am going to be enjoying myself for these last few years as much as I can. I say few — probably another 15. I can do that easy, mate, easy.”
Though Stewart may not be able to party as he did back in the ’70s and ’80s, he admitted he still loved crazy nights out with the lads from his band. “I’m not like I was back then,” he confessed. “I can’t stay up all night, get drunk, go mad, and still have a voice just like that.” These days, I have to protect my voice before and after every show.
But that doesn’t mean Stewart has totally renounced his rock ‘n’ roll ways. “The older you get, the more you have to take care of yourself. Water has a hell of a lot to do with it. But do you think I just have water on my rider? You’re talking to Rod Stewart here, mate,” he teased. “We go mad after every show. There are 13 of us, six women, really great musicians, and I make them drink. We absolutely love it.”
Before each show, Stewart knocks back a quick Bacardi, which he only half-jokingly insists is good for his voice. After the show, the band rocks Martinis, partying hearty long after most bands have gone night-night. “Most bands all go home and go to bed, but we don’t,” Stewart said. “We have a big old party.”
Despite facing challenges in old age and battling life-threatening illnesses, Rod Stewart, without doubt, shows no diminishment in resilience and love for performance. His fans can be guaranteed that as much as concerts have been canceled recently, his management has thought of no retirement from the legendary singer just yet.
