From Vegas via Phoenix to the Hollywood Bowl

With the fourth of what were originally six planned shows at Caesars Palace, Sir Rod Stewart brought this year’s first Las Vegas run to a close last Saturday, delivering yet another spectacular performance. Two concerts had to be cancelled at the end of May due to illness, but he has now recovered and has been in absolutely top form over the past few days.

The 81-year-old Briton once again shook up his setlist at the Colosseum. This time, his 1980s song “Infatuation” was chosen as the opener, and “It’s A Heartache”, “I Don’t Want To Talk About It”, “I’m Losing You”, “Twistin’ The Night Away”, “Mandolin Wind” and “Young Turks” also returned to the setlist for what is, for the time being, his final evening at the Colosseum. In August, Sir Rod will return to Sin City once more, likely for the last time, for six further performances. Silke Mock, who attended the four most recent Vegas concerts, summed up the Colosseum run: “Apart from the two cancellations, they were brilliant days. You could tell from the first concert that Rod wasn’t feeling his best, so the cancellations didn’t come as a complete surprise. Even though it was naturally annoying that two concerts were cancelled. But after the enforced break, he was back to his old self, the performance was top-notch and his voice was powerful. The special highlight was, of course, ‘Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay’ as the opener on two occasions. I never would have expected to be able to experience the song live again.”

Setlist Las Vegas (6/6/26)

• Infatuation

• Young Turks

• Ooh La La

• Stay With Me

• I'm Losing You

• The First Cut Is The Deepest

• I Don't Want To Talk About It

• Forever Young

• Maggie May

• Mandolin Wind

• It's A Heartache

• Jolene (Band only)

• Rhythm Of My Heart

• People Get Ready

• Proud Mary (Band only)

• It Takes Two

• Da Ya Think I'm Sexy

• Love Train

From Las Vegas, the Stewart entourage travelled on to Phoenix, where the next show of the North American tour was scheduled to take place at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Sir Rod was accompanied by his mate Richard Marx, who opened the evening with a seven-song set. Naturally, his hits “Endless Summer Nights”, “Angelica” and “Right Here Waiting” were all included.

Stewart then took to the stage and once again delivered a show of the highest calibre. Hit after hit, witty banter that put a smile on the audience’s faces, and an energetic performance – what more could a Rod Stewart fan possibly want?

The setlist was almost unchanged from his last performance in Las Vegas. “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” was replaced by the Simply Red hit “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”, and “The Killing Of Georgie” took the place of the song in support of Ukraine, “Rhythm Of My Heart”.

Setlist Phoenix (8/6/26):

• Infatuation

• Some Guys Have All The Luck

• Tonight I'm Yours

• It's A Heartache

• Ooh La La

• Stay With Me

• The First Cut Is The Deepest

• Tonight's The Night

• Forever Young

• I'm Losing You

• Mandolin Wind

• Maggie May

• I'd Rather Go Blind

• Young Turks

• Jolene (Band only)

• People Get Ready

• If You Don't Know Me By Now

• The Killing Of Georgie

• Have I Told You Lately

• Proud Mary (Band only)

• Hot Legs

• Da Ya Think I'm Sexy

• Love Train

On Wednesday, it was time to say, “Welcome to the Hollywood Bowl”. In Los Angeles, where Rod Stewart has called home for many years, it was a very special performance. Drummer David Palmer remarked: “J’anna and I have played at this venue so many times with Sir Rod, but yesterday it felt more magical than ever. Just the thought that this was our last Bowl performance together stirred up some very special emotions”.

17,500 people had made their way to the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday, including Rod’s former saxophonist Katja Rieckermann, who lives in Los Angeles and took the opportunity to visit her former boss Rod and his bandmates on her doorstep. “It was a great show, Rod’s still got it,” the North German later wrote on her Instagram channel.

For her and the rest of the audience, however, Stewart had some bad news: “This is my last performance here,” the 81-year-old told the fans. “So let’s have a great party tonight.”

No sooner said than done. Like a little live wire, the singer then hopped and danced across the stage, treating the audience to 25 songs from his magnificent career. These included classics such as “Rhythm Of My Heart”, “Have I Told You Lately” and – of course – “Maggie May”, the song that essentially started it all. “Forever Young”, “Young Turks” and “Some Guys Have All The Luck” were also on the set list that evening, during which Rod once again put to rest a rumour spread by his critics, who suspected he was taking a nap during his five costume changes: “Rest? I’ll tell you, I can run 100 metres in 19 seconds!” These outfit changes included countless retro-style sequinned coats, including a leopard-print coat at the start of the show, culminating in his red suit from the 1980s.

“So, I’m wearing a red suit now,” Stewart called out to the crowd, who had been singing along enthusiastically all evening. “Men my age should know better. But I don’t give a damn.” Thunderous applause, a thousand cheers and plenty of laughter were guaranteed.

The news portal “Deadline” described Rod as the “king of soulful, raw vocals”. And he proved, not least with “I’d Rather Go Blind”, that this isn’t just a cliché, but simply the plain truth.

Which song on Wednesday epitomised a journey through time in Stewart’s music? “Some Guys Have All the Luck”? He played this 80s classic quite early on in the Bowl show (sometimes it’s played towards the end at other venues). Or was it his opener, the sexy, noir-style “Infatuation” from 1984, which had everyone on their feet? So many hits! Yet when Stewart delved into the Faces section of the show, with his poignant rendition of “Ohh La La” and the classic line “I wish that I knew what I know now/When I was younger”, it really tugged at the heartstrings because his singing was so authentic. Before that song and “Stay With Me”, Stewart joked that he was still working on a Faces album, due to be released in twelve years’ time.

Setlist Hollywood Bowl (10/6/26):

• Infatuation

• Havein A Party

• This Old Heart Of Mine

• It's A Heartache

• Tonight I'm Yours

• If You Don't Know Me By Now

• Some Guys Have All The Luck

• Forever Young

• The First Cut Is The Deepest

• Tonight's The Night

• Ooh La La

• Stay With Me

• I'm Losing You

• Mandolin Wind

• Maggie May

• I'd Rather Go Blind

• Young Turks

• Rhythm Of My Heart

• Jolene (Band only)

• People Get Ready

• Have I Told You Lately

• Proud Mary (Band only)

• Hot Legs

• Da Ya Think I'm Sexy

• Love Train