Rod Stewart: From Mod Rocker to Global Showman

Rod Stewart. Early Life and Musical Roots

Roderick David Stewart was born on January 10, 1945, in London, England. Raised in a working-class family, he had early ambitions in football (soccer) but shifted to music in the early 1960s after discovering American R&B, soul, and folk.

Rod’s distinctively raspy voice, often imitated but never matched, became his hallmark — expressive, emotional, and full of swagger.

Rod Stewart. Early Career and The Faces (1964–1975)

✦ Early Bands

Rod began his career with British blues groups like:

• The Dimensions (with Jimmy Powell)
• Steampacket (with Long John Baldry and Julie Driscoll)
• Shotgun Express (with future Fleetwood Mac members)

In 1967, he joined Jeff Beck Group, gaining recognition for his voice on albums like Truth (1968) and Beck-Ola (1969). His collaboration with Beck brought him international exposure.

✦ The Faces (1969–1975)

When Steve Marriott left Small Faces, the remaining members formed The Faces with Stewart and guitarist Ronnie Wood. Their sound was boozy, loose, and soulful, influencing countless bar rock and punk bands.

Key Faces songs:

• “Stay with Me”
• “Ooh La La”
• “Cindy Incidentally”

During his time with the Faces, Stewart simultaneously launched a solo career, which quickly eclipsed the band’s popularity.

Rod Stewart. Solo Stardom: 1970s Peak

✦ Every Picture Tells a Story (1971)

Stewart’s solo breakthrough.

• “Maggie May” – A massive #1 hit and a rock classic
• “(I Know) I’m Losing You” – A Temptations cover with grit and soul
• “Reason to Believe” – A tender ballad

This album blended rock, folk, blues, and soul, and established Rod Stewart as one of the most compelling storytellers in rock.

Other major ’70s albums:

• Gasoline Alley (1970)
• Never a Dull Moment (1972)
• Atlantic Crossing (1975) – Showed a shift toward glam and soul-pop

Hits of the era:

• “You Wear It Well”
• “Sailing”
• “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” – One of his biggest U.S. hits
• “The Killing of Georgie” – A brave ballad addressing homophobia

Rod Stewart. Pop Crossover and Global Fame (1976–1988)

During the late ’70s and ’80s, Stewart evolved into a mainstream pop and disco-rock superstar.

Notable albums and hits:

• Blondes Have More Fun (1978) – Featuring the disco-rock hit “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”
• Foolish Behaviour (1980) – “Passion”
• Body Wishes (1983)
• Out of Order (1988) – A commercial comeback, with “Forever Young” and “My Heart Can’t Tell You No”

Though this era received mixed critical reception, Rod remained a top-selling and highly visible performer, known for his flamboyant image, romantic ballads, and stadium presence.

Rod Stewart. Reinvention and Acoustic Credibility (1990s)

✦ Unplugged…and Seated (1993)

A successful MTV Unplugged album and tour with Ronnie Wood, revisiting his early material.

Key track:

• “Have I Told You Lately” (Van Morrison cover) – Became one of his biggest romantic ballads

✦ A Spanner in the Works (1995)

Included “Leave Virginia Alone” (written by Tom Petty) and “You’re the Star.”

Stewart returned to more rootsy, mature songwriting, and retained chart relevance into the late ’90s.

VI. The Great American Songbook & Later Career (2002–Present)

In the 2000s, Stewart took an unexpected and incredibly successful turn with his Great American Songbook series — a collection of pop standards by Gershwin, Porter, and Berlin.

✦ It Had to Be You… (2002) and four follow-up volumes

These albums introduced Rod to a new generation of fans, sold millions, and reestablished his vocal versatility.

Other projects:

• Time (2013) – His first album of original material in years, including “She Makes Me Happy”
• Blood Red Roses (2018) – Returned to folk-pop storytelling
• The Tears of Hercules (2021) – Blended modern pop with classic Rod stylings

VII. Legacy and Recognition

Rod Stewart is known for:

• A genre-spanning career: blues rock, folk, glam, disco, standards
• His distinctive raspy voice and emotional delivery
• A reputation for being romantic, rebellious, and eternally stylish

Achievements:

• Over 250 million records sold worldwide
• 10 UK No. 1 albums and 6 UK No. 1 singles
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice (1994 as a solo artist, 2012 with the Faces)
• Knighted in 2016 for services to music and charity

Interesting Facts

• Once tried out as an apprentice footballer for Brentford F.C.
• Known for his love of model railways
• Was briefly banned from BBC Radio in the ‘70s for the racy lyrics of “Tonight’s the Night”
• Has eight children and is known for his charm and cheeky sense of humor
• His signature haircut became a style icon in its own right during the ’70s and ’80s