Glastonbury Festival, renowned as a pinnacle of the music calendar, is famed for its legendary Sunday night “Legends slot.” In years past, icons like Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, and Kylie Minogue have captivated audiences with unforgettable performances. In 2025, Sir Rod Stewart will take the revered Pyramid Stage, promising an extraordinary show.
Though no stranger to Glastonbury, having headlined in 2002 alongside Coldplay and Stereophonics, this upcoming performance holds special significance for the veteran rocker. Speaking to the BBC’s Sidetracked with Annie and Nick, Rod Stewart disclosed that staging his set will cost him approximately £300,000. Notably, he won’t even get a guest list, meaning three of his eight children must purchase their own tickets. At 80 years old, this might mark his final major festival appearance.
While details of Stewart’s payment remain undisclosed, Glastonbury headliners typically earn less than £250,000. Festival organizer Emily Eavis noted that artists receive under 10% of what they might at other major festivals. A substantial portion of Rod’s expenses will cover transporting his band and equipment from California and accommodations at a hotel in Bath for the weekend. The rocker looks forward to an energetic, fun-filled weekend with his musicians.
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His band features familiar faces like guitarist Don Kirkpatrick, longtime bassist Conrad Kirsch, and violinist J’anna Jacoby. Stewart also plans to reunite with former Faces bandmate and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. Additionally, a small orchestra will join him onstage for poignant ballads, including classics like “Tonight’s the Night” and “I Don’t Want to Talk About It.”
With only 75 minutes to perform, Stewart faces the challenge of fitting in as many hits as possible. To maximize time for his iconic songs, he intends to minimize onstage chatter, though a sip of Bacardi and Coke—the only drink he enjoys during gigs—will punctuate his set.
Reflecting on friendships from the 70s and 80s, Stewart shared that he now sees less of old pals like Ronnie Wood and Sir Elton John, largely because they no longer drink, while he continues to do so. He joked, “They stay away from me… bad influence!”
Having sold over 200 million records, Stewart remains mindful of his health. He recently canceled a Las Vegas show due to a throat infection but insists he is not retiring. His 2025 European and North American tours will conclude his large-scale world tours, with future performances planned at more intimate venues.
Rod Stewart also confirmed that a new album, featuring former Faces bandmates Ronnie Wood and Kenney Jones, is expected in 2026. He told music writer Craig McLean about 15 quality tracks—both old and new—ready for completion. “No other band sounds like us,” he assured.