In February 1967, Jeff Beck needed a helping hand with the rock ’n’ roll band he had formed after leaving The Yardbirds, and found struggling, raspy-voiced singer Rod Stewart. By the summer of 1968, The Jeff Beck Group had triumphantly toured the U.S., and Stewart was a star on both sides of the Atlantic. This month, Stewart returned to Las Vegas for the first time since Beck’s untimely passing, and in the wake of the two old mates’ version of “People Get Ready” being chosen as part of the official King’s Coronation playlist.
Sir Rod Stewart played the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert in June, delivering rousing versions of “Baby Jane” and Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” to the distinguished guests at Buckingham Palace. Had Beck not suddenly passed, Stewart might have been able to perform The Impressions classic for King Charles in person, but he’s performed “People Get Ready” at shows in Australia earlier this year, and the song is likely to be included often on setlists throughout the rest of his busy 2023 concert schedule.
Stewart does not have a song flow so tied to stage production that he can’t mix things up, but he’s been consistent about the cover that kicks off concerts. A year ago, fans at a Rod Stewart: The Hits performance at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace were the first to hear him open a show with a cover of Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love.” That ’80s classic went over well enough to earn placement on Stewart’s setlists for the rest of the year as he toured North America before returning to Vegas in September.
He’s been following up “Addicted to Love” with early solo hit “You Wear It Well” and Faces classic (written by buddy Ron Wood) “Ooh La La,” both of which had long been part of his Vegas residency repertoire. Anyone who attended a Caesars show in the last year also had the pleasant surprise of hearing Stewart belt out Patti LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade,” while his version of The Sutherland Brothers’ “Sailing” has been a live staple since Stewart toured in support of 1976 album Atlantic Crossing, and a preferred concert closer.
Stewart is famous for covering Sam Cooke and Van Morrison, less well known perhaps for his rendition of “Cigarettes & Alcohol” by Oasis. He’s sang “Layla” and “Leather and Lace” live. It seems as if he’s game to apply his voice to any song that suits his footloose and fancy-free tastes.
With the Royal Albert Hall hosting the two-night, all-star A Tribute to Jeff Beck concert following Stewart’s latest round of Caesars Palace dates, Rod the Mod has a chance to brush up on songs from the two classic albums he and Wood recorded with Beck, Truth and Beck-Ola. He’s announced that he plans to play selections from those albums at the tribute, so it’s possible Vegas audiences may witness Stewart perform Beck’s arrangements of “I Ain’t Superstitious” or “Rock My Plimsoul” for the first time in years.
7:30 p.m. May 10, 12-13 and 15, starting at $70 plus tax and fee. ticketmaster.com
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