Sir Rod Stewart, the legendary British rock musician, recently opened up about his struggle with memory loss after undergoing life-saving throat surgery. In a candid interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, he revealed that he “almost forgot how to sing” following the procedure.
At the age of 73, Rod Stewart has already overcome prostate cancer and battled thyroid cancer back in 2000, which required him to have throat surgery to remove a tumor. Reflecting on his experience, he shared his journey of memory loss with listeners.
During a recent episode of Headliners on BBC 5 Live, host Nihal Arthanayake sat down with the iconic singer-songwriter to discuss various topics, including football, family, and his latest album, “The Tears of Hercules.” They also delved into Rod’s thyroid cancer diagnosis and the subsequent throat surgery.
Nihal asked Rod about his feelings towards his “beautiful instrument” after coming so close to losing his voice two decades ago. Rod admitted feeling vulnerable and acknowledged the potential challenges of returning to singing after such an invasive procedure. He mentioned that cutting all the way through his neck during the operation affected his memory, making it difficult to recall how to sing.
“It took me nine months to get my voice back,” Rod revealed. He described the gradual process of regaining his singing abilities, starting with simple phrases like “Wake up Maggie” and gradually building up from there. The journey was not easy, but with time and perseverance, he was able to reclaim his voice.
Thyroid cancer, although rare, affects both men and women, with women being more prone to it. Rod’s surgery and subsequent recovery highlight the challenges faced by individuals undergoing treatment for this type of cancer. However, with patience and the guidance of his surgeons, Rod was able to regain his voice, putting any fears of losing the ability to sing to rest.
When asked about his patience as he grew older, Rod admitted to being impatient with his children but shared his passion and patience for his hobbies, such as building model railways. He also expressed his eagerness to share his music with the world, always wanting to release albums as soon as possible for people to enjoy.
Feeling grateful for his unique and versatile voice, Rod expressed his desire to explore various genres of music in the future, including country and duets. With his impressive discography of 10 number-one albums and 31 top-10 singles in the UK, as well as a successful career in the US with 16 top 10 singles, Rod’s musical journey continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Rod Stewart’s contributions to music and charitable causes were recognized in 2016 when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the industry. His resilience and determination throughout his battle with cancer and memory loss serve as an inspiration to many.
