may be known for his music, but he has a love of model trains, and this hobby caused him to reveal that he was colour-blind inadvertently.
According to reports, Rod has a train set the size of a tennis court in his LA mansion. He also has a clause in his rider demanding a spare room with a table next to his dressing room so that he can play with his trains when bored.
The singer once openly admitted that he’d much rather talk to and appear in a model railroad magazine than a music magazine. He also once wrote an eight-page guide on how to make a tall factory.
However, in 2014, he accidentally let it slip that he’s colour-blind as he explained to an interviewer how he’s very involved in constructing his models, right down to applying miniature bits of artificial turf to his tiny parks.
Although he takes great pleasure in doing this, he frequently has to bring someone in to check his work because he often accidentally paints everything red. When the interviewer asked how, with his experience, this was possible, Rod matter-of-factly explained that he’s colour-blind, one of only a handful of times he’s ever alluded to having the condition in his entire career.
Rod Stewart has previously spoken about being colour blind. (Image: Getty)
When asked how he had managed to keep his colour blindness a secret for so long, Rod replied that he was amazed that nobody had figured it out on their own.
He pointed to how he had dressed for the last four decades as an example of how people should have realised he had a problem coordinating colours.
Rod’s daughter echoed this sentiment, stating that people should have probably noticed something was amiss when her dad painted his house bright orange.
When asked if the condition had ever negatively impacted his life, Rod maintained that the only time it was ever really an issue was when he was 15 years old. He got a job selling and designing wallpaper, prompting him to say: “If you are colour-blind, one of the things you can’t be is an aircraft pilot. One of the other things you can’t be is a wallpaper designer.”
Rod has been colour blind for a number of years. (Image: Getty)
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Last year, Rod was forced to cancel three shows in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Lincoln in California after contracting strep throat and testing positive for within a matter of days.
The rockstar told fans his “days were numbered” while he took some time to recover.
Rod revealed he had suffered a significant health setback only hours before the landmark 200th show in Las Vegas. He said: “Most people can work with strep throat but obviously not me.
“I’m absolutely gutted. I’ve been looking forward to this concert for so long. My deepest regrets for any inconvenience this has caused. Thankfully we’ll now be returning in 2025 and I hope to see you all there.”
Amid growing concern for his health, Rod Stewart clarified his earlier comments that had alarmed fans. He reassured his supporters that his previous remark – “My days are numbered” – was made in a lighthearted spirit.
He stated, “Aren’t everybody’s days numbered? It was purely in jest.” Rod emphasised that he is currently in “embarrassingly wonderful health” and thoroughly enjoys every moment of life. He smiled, “I am not dying, as far as I know.”
The talented singer shared that he is actively training to set a fitness world record for a 79-year-old. He aims to complete a 100-meter dash in an impressive 18 seconds.
He commits to a rigorous training regimen to prepare for this ambitious challenge, exercising three to four times a week. His training occurs on his private football field, where he also uses his personal gym and swimming pool.
Additionally, Rod credits his sustained fitness to the expertise and guidance of his trainer, who has been by his side for an incredible 37 years, helping him maintain his health and vitality.