Sir Rod Stewart has returned to the stage after cancelling several performances due to illness earlier this month, reassuring fans with a brief update on his health.
The 81-year-old performed in Lisbon on Saturday night, appearing in good spirits after recent health concerns disrupted his tour.
Before taking to the stage, Stewart raised a glass to the crowd.
“I’m going to drink to health, it’s been most enjoyable but we’ve still got a long way to go,” he said.
He then launched into a full performance without breaks and greeted the audience with his trademark humour.
“Saturday night – are Portugal going to win the World Cup? Fingers crossed,” Sir Rod said.
During the concert, Stewart also paid tribute to his late friend Tina Turner, who died just over two years ago.
“[She] was a good friend of mine,” he said before her portrait appeared on stage ahead of a performance of their 1991 duet, It Takes Two.
Reflecting on his return to the festival, Stewart told the crowd: “The last time I did this festival was 2008; it’s better now, much better.”
He also joked around on stage, after almost experiencing a wardrobe malfunction.
“I was having a little bit of trouble with my belt there,” he laughed.
The performance comes weeks after Stewart was spotted using an oxygen tank at the side of the stage during a concert in Utah, after struggling to remain upright while performing.
After taking a few breaths from the tank, he returned to the microphone and reassured the audience.
“The show must go on,” he said, adding he had “nearly f––ing fainted” while attempting a dance move.
Stewart’s recent tour has been affected by a series of health setbacks. Earlier this month, he rescheduled performances during his Las Vegas residency after contracting the flu.
A week later, additional shows in Nevada and California were cancelled after he was diagnosed with an acute upper respiratory infection and laryngitis.
At the time, Stewart’s team shared a statement on Instagram saying, “on the advice of his doctors and following a diagnosis of an acute upper respiratory infection that has resulted in laryngitis, he is unable to take the stage this evening.”
The cancellations drew criticism after Stewart was photographed travelling to Boston and attending Scotland’s World Cup match later that day.
Image: Instagram
