Sir Rod Stewart has opened up about how he views dying and admitted his ‘days are numbered’ as he approaches 80.
The Maggie May hitmaker, 79, was rocking in the 70s and 80s – and he’s still going, albeit a little slower than before. But the star isn’t afraid of dying, and has promised to enjoy himself ‘for these last few years.’
Sir Rod added that by ‘few’ he meant ‘probably another 15’, which he reckons he can ‘do that easy mate’. Phew!
‘I’m aware my days are numbered but I’ve got no fear,’ he said.
‘We have all got to pass on at some point, so we are all in the same basket. 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,’ he added in an interview with The Sun.
Looking back on his youth, Sir Rod admitted he’s ‘not like’ he was back then, partying into the early hours and still being able to belt out his iconic husky voice.
‘I’m not like I was in the ’70s and ’80s and I can’t stay up all night, get drunk and go mad and still have a voice just like that. Nowadays I have to protect my voice before and after every show,’ he admitted.
But Rod added: ‘But no, you think I just have water on my rider? You’re talking to Rod Stewart here, mate. 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.’
Having previously had both prostate and thyroid cancer, Sir Rod also admitted he’s ‘more aware’ of his health now than ever before, to the point where he’s actually ‘a bit of a hypochondriac’.
But he’s still touring the world and making music. In March, Jools Holland cinched his first number one album alongside Sir Rod with Swing Fever.
The musician is currently performing a number of shows at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, before heading to other US states.
Last summer it was reported that Sir Rod’s family hoped he would slow down and retire soon – but the rockstar has previously confirmed he will ‘never’ do that.
‘They are worried about him and want him to throw in the towel on music and retire on his own terms,’ an insider told The Mail in June last year.
‘Their dad has devoted 50 years of his life to music and he has nothing left to prove to anyone.
‘With his health issues, and considering his age, several of Sir Rod’s kids just think it is time for him to take a few years to focus on his health and his family – especially after the birth of his third grandbaby.’
In 2019, Sir Rod revealed to shocked fans he had been battling prostate cancer for three years.
He was diagnosed during a routine check-up in 2016, and went into remission in July 2019.
This came two decades after he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2000.