Rod Stewart to play Glastonbury 2025 legends slot: ‘I’m more than able to pleasure and titillate’

The Glastonbury Festival has revealed its first performer for 2025, with Rod Stewart set to take the stage on Sunday afternoon during the special “legends” segment on the Pyramid stage.

Stewart expressed he felt "excited and prepared" to perform at the festival, noting that despite being 79 years old, he was "fully capable of entertaining and delighting" the audience.

This means he will be among the oldest performers to take the stage at the festival, although he won't hold the record for the oldest. Burt Bacharach performed on the Pyramid stage in 2015 when he was 87, and Paul McCartney headlined just after turning 80 in 2022.

Stewart has a long list of popular songs, ensuring that his performance will likely draw a big crowd and be met with enthusiasm. His journey in music began back in 1971, when he hit number one on the UK singles chart with "Maggie May" and found success with "Stay With Me" as the lead singer of the Faces. Over the years, he has achieved multiple number one hits, including "Sailing," "Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?" and his rendition of "The First Cut Is the Deepest." Throughout his career, he has released 11 number one albums, which together have spent an impressive 1,189 weeks on the charts.

Although he might not be topping the charts with new singles anymore, his albums continue to enjoy consistent popularity. Three of his last five releases have hit number one in the UK, including his latest album, "Swing Fever." This collection of big band classics, created in collaboration with Jools Holland, was released in February.

Stewart has tours scheduled in Europe and North America for next year, continuing through August. However, he mentioned last week that he plans to retire from “large-scale world tours” after that.

He mentioned, "I’m not looking to retire anytime soon. I'm passionate about my work and truly enjoy it. At 79, I’m still in great shape, with a full head of hair, and I can run 100 meters in 18 seconds! I’d love to explore the great American songbook and then have a Swing Fever tour in a couple of years, focusing on more intimate venues. But who knows, that might change."

The future of his beloved sports car collection is also in doubt. Earlier this month, he expressed his worries, stating that “due to the potholes on our roads, I might have to sell them.” Stewart has previously done some informal road repairs near his home in the Essex countryside. He remarked, “People are damaging their vehicles. Recently, I saw an ambulance with a flat tire. My Ferrari can’t even make it through this area.”

Since its comeback following the Covid-19 pandemic, Glastonbury's legends stage has welcomed artists such as Shania Twain, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, and Diana Ross. In the past, it has also showcased performances by Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, and others.

Various seasoned pop artists are being speculated to take the three main headlining spots at the festival, with names like Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder mentioned. Additionally, newer talents like Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Fender, and The 1975 are also in the mix.