Rock legend Sir Rod Stewart made headlines for the wrong reasons on Sunday night after he brought his Athens concert to an abrupt halt to angrily confront a member of the audience.
Concert Chaos in Athens
The 80-year-old singer was in the middle of performing his classic hit 'Do Ya Think I'm Sexy' at the OAKA Sports Hall when he became visibly frustrated by one concert-goer's actions. Stewart stopped the music entirely to deliver an expletive-laden rebuke, which was captured on video and shared widely on TikTok.
In the tense exchange, Stewart could be heard shouting: 'Out the f***ing way. You’re spoiling the show for everybody. Out the way. Leave. We don’t need you here.' He then appeared to defend another fan, adding: 'All she’s doing is putting up a sign. It’s not hurting you is it, mate?'
Bad Mood Blamed on Football Defeat
The incident occurred on the same day that Stewart's beloved football team, Celtic FC, suffered a 3-1 defeat to St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup Final. Fans online were quick to link his short temper to the sporting disappointment, with many joking about his mood in the video's comments. One user teased: 'Probably mentioned St Mirren', while another wrote: 'His team got beat 3-1 today'.
The viral clip was posted by a concert attendee with the caption: 'Rod Stewart p****d off! What happened?' The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Sir Rod Stewart for comment regarding the incident.
Future Plans and Touring Ambitions
Despite the on-stage outburst, the 'Maggie May' hitmaker's touring schedule continues apace. His next performance is scheduled for Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, after which he will take a three-month break. The tour resumes in the United States in February, with shows planned for Hollywood, New Orleans, and Las Vegas.
However, Stewart has signalled a significant shift in his performance strategy. In an interview last year, he revealed plans to end large-scale world tours, though he stressed he has 'no desire to retire'. He wrote: 'This will be the end of large-scale world tours for me... I'm fit, have a full head of hair and can run 100 metres in 18 seconds at the jolly old age of 79.'
Looking ahead to 2026, Stewart expressed a desire to perform in more intimate venues, potentially focusing on a 'Great American Songbook, Swing Fever' tour following the release of his collaborative album 'Swing Fever' with Jools Holland earlier this year. He described this potential move as offering 'smaller venues and more intimacy', but characteristically left his options open, calling himself 'The ambiguous Sir Rod Stewart.'
The veteran star also spoke candidly about ageing last year, stating he has 'no fear' about death and aims to 'stick around for another 15 years'. He told The Sun he protects his voice more carefully now but still enjoys celebrating with his band after every show.
