The Maggie May singer, 81, tells the Record why he paused a concert in West Valley City, Utah, on Friday to use an oxygen tank.
Sir Rod worried fans after needing help to breathe on stage(Image: Getty Images)
Veteran pop superstar Sir Rod Stewart has issued worried fans with a reassuring message: “I’m absolutely fine!” Cut off Maggie May singer81, went viral over the weekend after he paused a concert in West Valley City, Utah, on Friday to use an oxygen tank.
The rock legend appeared in some discomfort while performing with the Young Turks, and after staff rushed on stage to give him oxygen, Rod told the crowd he “almost passed out” before asking if they would mind if he sat down for the next set. Then he continued the concert from a chair – “the show must go on!” – rather than leaving the stage.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Record, Rod said: “I’m 100% fine now. We were performing at high altitude – 1500m above sea level – and nobody bothered to tell me before the show!”
The keep-fit fanatic, who works out daily in the private gym at his Essex mansion, continued: “Anyone who runs to keep fit will know that you need to acclimatise to high altitude. That’s why, for example, Scotland squad flew into America long before their first game at the World Cup.
“A few minutes before the concert started, I asked my assistant if we were up and he said ‘no.’ So I ran on stage, launched my set and started my silly dance.
“And that’s when it hit me… bosh!!! It felt like my lungs had collapsed.”
The previous week, Rod had been forced to cancel a show in California on doctor’s orders after being diagnosed with an acute upper respiratory infection resulting in laryngitis.
“That definitely made it worse,” Rod explained. “There are certain preparations I always make for concerts at high altitude, but due to recent ill health, I simply never had the chance.
“After an hour’s show, I was a little dizzy – it was an outdoor concert, mind you, in painfully hot conditions – and I suddenly felt completely exhausted. That’s when the oxygen came out.”
Rod added: “But I’m an old trooper. There’s no way I was leaving that stage and disappointing thousands of fans who had paid good money to see me.
“And you know what? It was thanks to the brilliant support of those people in Utah that I was able to finish the show.”
The lifelong Scotland fan continued: “I’m ok now thanks and I’m really looking forward to putting my feet up on Wednesday night and cheering Stevie Clarke and the boys on against Brazil.”
Rod’s big match prediction?
“Listen,” he said. “If this game is even HALF as good as the Tartan Army have been in the USA – they’re the biggest, most patriotic fans in the world and they’ve done Scotland proud – I think we’ll beat Brazil 6-5!
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I need some more of that oxygen….”
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