No more boos: Leipzig loves Rod again

It was the big controversy of the 2024 tour – Sir Rod's performance at the Quarterback Arena last summer. When the singer announced his hit ‘Rhythm Of My Heart’ with a statement in support of Ukraine and a clear ‘Fuck Putin’ shout, the Leipzig audience reacted with whistles and boos. It was a topic that occupied the media throughout Germany for days.
A year later, however, there was no sign of criticism from the audience. The whole arena celebrated Rod ‘one more time’ and enjoyed a magnificent evening, without any political overtones.
Still elated by Celtic Football Club's victory in Rotterdam the night before, the singer landed at Halle/Leipzig Airport in his jet early on Friday afternoon and, after cheerfully and relaxed signing autographs for a few waiting fans, was driven into the city.

At 8 pm sharp, Sir Rod took to the stage at the Quarterback Immobilien Arena, which was sold out with around 12,000 spectators, and kicked off a lively evening with ‘Infatuation’ and his 1981 hit ‘Tonight I'm Yours’. The fans were up on their feet early on, the arena quickly turned into a dance hall, and ‘Twistin' The Night Away’ provided the perfect musical backdrop.
After ‘It Takes Two,’ Rod, who as always cracked a few jokes and interacted with the fans in the front rows, slowed down the tempo a little. With ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’ and ‘Tonight's The Night’, the fans were able to really swoon for the first time, before the evening continued at full throttle with ‘Forever Young’, ‘Baby Jane’, ‘Young Turks’ and ‘Maggie May’. Rod's perfect band contributed as usual to a successful evening (‘Lady Marmalade’ and ‘Proud Mary’). When the obligatory signed footballs were kicked or thrown into the audience during ‘Da Ya Think I'm Sexy’, the lively evening came to an end far too soon for many.

Sailing’ and ‘Love Train’ brought the curtain down on around two hours of top-class entertainment.
Many fans would have loved to enjoy Stewart's hits for even longer and were reluctant to leave the arena. Some stood together in groups, reviewing the evening's events in conversation. Others treated themselves to a quick ‘cold one’ at the drinks stands, as many spectators' voices had suffered greatly from singing along non-stop.
Still others grabbed a souvenir at the merchandise stand before the arena emptied and the fans ended the evening in one of the city's pubs.

Setlist:

• Infatuation

• Tonight I'm Yours

• Twistin' The Night Away

• It Takes Two

• This Old Heart Of Mine

• The First Cut Is The Deepest

• Tonight's The Night

• Forever Young

• Baby Jane

• Young Turks

• Maggie May

• I'd Rather Go Blind

• Downtown Train

• I'm So Excited (Band only)

• I Don't Want To Talk About It

• You're In My Heart

• Have I Told You Lately

• Proud Mary (Band only)

• Da Ya Think I'm Sexy

• Some Guys Have All The Luck

• Hot Legs

• Sailing

• Love Train