ROD: The Autobiography – by Rod Stewart

Published by Random House
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
8.5/10

Rod The Mod shows that even though his music has mellowed over the decades, he is still a cheeky larrikin, and he delivers a bloody entertaining and likeable read in ROD.

Rod proves quite the storyteller, crafting a book that reads much like he’s telling you the stories over a few pints down the local: there’s no time wasted on mundanity like excessive facts and figures, or the endless self examination of some autobiographies. Nope, Rod still sees himself as a lad, albeit a rather well off one who breathes more rarified air than the rest of us, and wears impeccably tailored suits, but a lad none-the-less.

His story takes us from childhood through his early blues outings in England, the Rockin’ Rod and Rod The Mod phases, and into pop stardom and the more sedate years of recent times, taking in his famous hair, a dizzying cavalcade of gorgeous blondes, soccer, drugs and – more soberly – a brush with cancer.

Despite there being a strong feeling that he isn’t letting any skeletons out of the closet that he isn’t completely comfortable with, his affable charm and cheeky wit see this a valuable read for fans of any era of his extensive career.

 

Category: Book Reviews