It’s never dull when Rod’s clan is on tour

PENNY LANCASTER, 47, is a model, photographer and wife of rock star Sir Rod Stewart, 73. The couple live in Essex with sons Alastair, 12, and Aiden, seven. ROCK bands are often referred to as families and that’s definitely the case with Rod – some of his current line-up have been with him for 25 years. But it’s no substitute for being with real family – Rod says the hardest part of his job is being away from me and the kids.

Families these days are often far too busy to even sit around a table, and that’s certainly true of extended families such as ours. So getting our lot together is always a mission but one I love to tackle, especially when Rod is on tour.

Just last month we managed to assemble all of his sons – Sean, 37, Liam, 23, Alastair and Aiden – in Vancouver, where Rod was performing.

Trips out on days when Rod is not playing a gig normally tick all the boxes. On one rainy day in Vancouver we headed to a bowling alley. All was well until Rod dramatically slipped and fell. Initially the boys burst out laughing, thinking he was up to one of his pranks, but then Aiden shouted: ‘Stop, Dad’s hurt.’ They then all ran to his rescue. Luckily it didn’t effect Rod’s performance on stage the next night.

Before the gig, the brothers frolicked about backstage, kicking balls up and down the corridors, while their father went through his warm-up routine in his dressing room – a leg massage from a personal trainer and a spin on a cycle machine. Then the boys burst in, heading straight for Rod’s warm-up mic for a rap. ‘That’s enough now boys, out please. Dad’s got to work,’ they were promptly told. ‘Have a good show, Dad, love ya,’ they replied in unison as they filed out.

After the show started, the crowd erupted with excitement as Rod took off his jacket. Liam and Sean watched from the side of the stage but their little brothers joined in Rod’s traditional routine of kicking giant signed footballs into the audience. Rod had pleaded that Aiden aim the balls high above the heads of the crowd, but his first attempt flew straight at a cameraman!

After the show finished and the curtain came down, celebrations began backstage with both families – the band and us – toasting the success of the tour.

How special this time spent together had been. There’s certainly never a dull moment in the Stewart clan.

NEXT WEEK

JUSTIN WEBB

THE HARDEST PART OF HIS JOB IS BEING AWAY FROM US