Rod Stewart - Rock Legends
Roderick David Stewart was born in Highgate North London as the Second World war was coming to a close. His neighbourhood was bombed just 30 minutes before his birth, giving him the feeling that he almost didn’t make it into the world. One of Rod’s earliest exposures to music was with the family gatherings around the piano in which they would sing songs by the 30s baritone singer, Al Jolson. The young Rod was also caught up in the wake of Rock and Roll music that swept 50s Britain. Rod developed a love of Otis Redding and Sam Cooke and took to the Blues circuit with his first band The Dimensions. However Rod lost vocal duties to Jimmy Powell and soon left the group but fate intervened in the form of singer Long John Baldry. Baldry brought Stewart into his band The Hoochie Coochie Men, but like many of Rod’s musical projects in the mid 60s it was short lived. However Baldry and Stewart were soon back together as part of Steam Packet along with Julie Driscoll. Rod had embraced the Mod look by this stage and the nickname Rod the Mod began to stick as his recognition grew. After leaving Steam Packet Rod was quickly picked up by former Yard Birds guitarist Jeff Beck. Rod had been a fan of The Yard Birds and this opportunity not only gave him a chance to sing with a hero, but also tour extensively across the US in the late 60s. Whilst on tour with Jeff Beck, Rod met guitarist Ronnie Wood, the two remained friends and when the Jeff Beck group disbanded, Rod and Ronnie became part of a new band that would be key to the success of both of their careers, Faces Despite his success with Faces, Rod released his own debut solo album An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down. The bulk of which was recorded during his time in the Jeff Beck group Things would change dramatically for Stewart as a solo artist with the release of his third solo album 1971’s Every Picture Tells A Story. The album would make him the first solo artist to achieve the number 1 position in both the US and the UK. And would give him his first smash hit single Maggie May Featuring archive material, music videos “Maggie May” “In The Morning” and, exclusive insights from music critics and journalists Michael Bonner (Uncut Magazine), Hamish MacBain (Shortlist), John Aizlewood (Evening Standard) Rock Legends Rod Stewart tells the story of one of Britain’s enduring rock stars.