ROD STEWART LIFE AS A FAMILY MAN
Singing superstar’s wild, womanising ways are well behind him and he’s happy to spend time with his 8 kids – especially when they get together to watch Braveheart
HIS reputation as a ladies’ man was well-earned, with one stunning woman after another on his arm.
But these days, the only stunning woman Sir Rod Stewart steps out with is wife Penny Lancaster.
And that’s not all that’s changed.
In his new song Hole in My Heart, Rod, 73, talks about not even being able to boil an egg. But the reality now is different.
He said: “There were days when we’d rely on a girlfriend to look after us and get us out of bed and make us a cup of tea.
“But it’s not like that anymore. Penny wouldn’t let me do that. She’s my wife and I love her dearly.
“We look after each other and make each other cups of tea and do things for each other.”
Penny is seen as the woman who eventually tamed Rod.
He dated beautiful models, as well as actress Britt Ekland. Rod had been married twice, first to Alana Hamilton and then to Rachel Hunter, when he met Penny in 1999.
Since then, he has become the consummate family man. And that takes some doing as he has eight children.
Rod’s first child was Sarah, who was given up for adoption. He had Kimberly, 39, - who made him a grandfather in 2011 - and Sean, 38, with Alana.
After their split, Rod had Ruby, 31, with model Kelly Emberg, before marrying Rachel in 1990.
They had two kids – Renee, 26, and 24-year-old Liam.
Rod married Penny in 2007. They have sons Alastair, 12, and Aiden, seven.
The rocker said: “Having eight children, you are a different father to each of them because of the age range.
“You can’t be a father to seven-year-old Aiden as I am to Sean, who is 38. I’m a man who wears many hats.”
Although born in London, Rod is proud of his father Robert’s Scottish roots. And he’s making sure his kids are, too.
The children have been raised mainly in America but he wants them to feel the same love for Scotland as he does.
Rod said: “I’ve shown Braveheart to Sean, Liam and Alastair. Aiden can watch it when he’s 10. They all want Scotland’s national football team to do well. They’re very aware of their Scottishness and their Scottish blood.”
Before I can move on to the next question, Rod pipes up: “You know, I get the Daily Record every day and have done for the past 12 years. I’m a Daily Record man. I always look at it online.”
Surely that’s proof enough of his Scottish roots?
Rod released his 30th studio album Blood Red Roses yesterday. Despite a career that has stretched from the 60s, he is still hungry for the top spot.
He said: “Chart placings matter. I don’t make an album to out-sell Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift. I make them for people who have been with me all these years.
“But I still want to be No1 in the UK. If Blood Red Roses gets to No1, it would be up there with being knighted.”
Since his third record Every Picture Tells a Story went to No1 in 1971, Rod has had only one studio album that didn’t make the UK top 10. Out of Order reached No11 in 1988, although it sold well in America and became his biggest-selling album of the 80s.
There are only a handful of musical superstars from the 60s – including Sir Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Sir Elton John, Roger Waters and Dave Gilmour from Pink Floyd – who are still able to release albums that vie for the top spot.
“We have a talent that is timeless,” Rod said. “I think my voice sounds relevant and young.”
Blood Red Roses was released almost 50 years to the date when Rod signed his first solo recording contract on October 8, 1968.
He was singing with The Jeff Beck Group at the time.
The following year, he released debut solo album An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down.
As well as six No1 studio albums and two No1 compilations in the UK, he’s had four No1 albums in the US.
In May 2000, Rod was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and after surgery, he had to re-learn how to sing. But his raspy voice sounds as powerful as ever on his new album.
He said: “It’s all down to the maintenance. I look after it. It’s water, sleep, not shouting too much.”
While the voice hasn’t changed, the lyrics have. He still has upbeat tunes, like Vegas Shuffle, on the new album.
But there are deeper songs like Farewell, which is about an old pal called Ewan Dawson from the 60s and Didn’t I – his drugs warning to parents.
He said: “I can’t write songs like Hot Legs and Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? anymore. I wouldn’t get away with those at my age.”
Sean has battled drink and drugs and in 2002 was jailed for 90 days for attacking a man.
“Didn’t I song started about Sean,” said Rod.
“He had a minor bust and a little run-in with drugs. He’s been close to doing something really silly. I’ll leave it at that.”
Blood Red Roses is out now. Rod plays Aberdeen’s AECC on June 12, 2019. Tickets from www. ticketmaster.co.uk.
I get the Daily Record every day and have done for the last 12 years. I’m a Daily Record man ROD ON BUYING SCOTLAND’S TOP NEWSPAPER