The last time I saw Rod Stewart on stage was 2011, and it ended up being a flat out great concert with the hexagenarian's husky voice not that much more husky than it ever was and his stamina as exhaustive as his song selection.
And now, with a Christmas album awaiting release, Rod The Mod has announced he is going back on tour in 2013. There was always a questions, as out rock stars grew older, how they would navigate old age, well, the truth is, they have done it exceedingly well. Any number of things have helped them and among them is healthcare is not what it was in the 1960s. 67 us truly the new 47, and while 20 years have not been added to the lifespan surely 20 years of energy have been.
It is hard to understand where this all comes from, how does Rod Stewart at 65 (which he was when I saw him at MSG and 68 (which he will be when he tours) has simply the energy to get on stage and sing and dance for hours on end. This is true of so many people, McCartney for one can appear ageless up on stage. nd Bruce, though a turn of the wheel younger, body surfs in the middle of a veering close to the four hour set.
There is another question and that would be: why bother? Certainly not the money so perhaps it is just like everybody who can't retire, who don't want to.
Personally, if Stewart is half as good as he was last time I saw him, I can't wait.