Rod Stewart was forced to use an oxygen tank on stage when he nearly passed out during his Utah concert on Friday night – weeks after canceling a string of concerts due to health issues.
The 81-year-old rock legend was performing at the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater in West Valley City when fans noticed he wasn’t moving around the stage as much as usual.
Stewart appeared to lean on instruments, stage barriers and a pole as he continued to perform, according to video obtained by TMZ.
At one point, attendants brought out an oxygen tank and Stewart took several deep breaths before addressing the crowd.
“The show must go on,” he told concertgoers. “I almost passed out there. Would you mind if I sit down for this one?”
The British star then finished the performance sitting in a chair.
West Valley City is about 4,300 feet above sea level, and the altitude may have played a factor in the singer’s apparent discomfort.
The incident comes a week after Stewart canceled a June 12 concert in San Diego less than an hour before showtime.
Organizers initially cited a sinus infection, while Stewart later revealed he had been diagnosed with an acute upper respiratory infection that caused laryngitis.
Stewart later faced criticism when he was seen at a World Cup match in Boston less than a day after pulling out of the San Diego concert.
Pictures and videos shared online showed him cheering on Scotland from the stands after traveling by private jet with his sons, Aidan and Alastair, and appeared to be enjoying a drink while watching the game.
The singer too canceled two Las Vegas shows in May and told fans he was on vocal rest while battling a sinus infection.
“My apologies to my family of fans. I am on vocal rest while recovering from a sinus infection,” Stewart said at the time.
“I look forward to seeing you at a future show at Caesars Palace or on tour this summer.”
Despite recent health setbacks, Stewart has maintained that he has no plans to retire.
After announcing his “One Last Time” farewell tour in 2024, the singer clarified that he was stepping away from major world tours — not quite live performances.
“This will be the end of major world tours for me, but I have no desire to retire,” Stewart shared on Instagram at the time. “I love what I do and I do what I love.”
“I’m fit, have a full head of hair and can run 100 meters in 18 seconds at the happy age of 79,” he added.
Stewart has long credited his fitness routine with helping him stay on the road.
“I keep very fit,” he told AARP last year. “I’ve played football my whole life – not so much anymore because I had a knee replacement. And I’ve always had a coach – the same guy for 38 years.”
Adding that he has a “massive” gym and an indoor pool at home, the singer said: “We do a lot of underwater training where the trainer throws a brick into the pool and I have to dive down, push the brick to the end of the pool and come up.”
Stewart is scheduled to continue his “One Last Time” tour across the United States throughout July and August, with the final date currently set for August 15 in St. Louis.
