192nd out of 798 books
—
735 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Rod: The Autobiography” as Want to Read:
Rod: The Autobiography
by
Rod Stewart
,
Simon Vance
(Goodreads Author)
The extraordinary life and career of music legend Rod Stewart, in his own words for the first time.
With his soulful and singular voice, narrative songwriting, and passionate live performances Rod Stewart has paved one of the most iconic and successful music careers of all time. He was the charismatic lead singer for the trailblazing rock and roll bands The Jeff Beck Group ...more
With his soulful and singular voice, narrative songwriting, and passionate live performances Rod Stewart has paved one of the most iconic and successful music careers of all time. He was the charismatic lead singer for the trailblazing rock and roll bands The Jeff Beck Group ...more
Audiobook
,
Unabridged, Download
Published
October 23rd 2012
by Random House Audio
(first published October 2nd 2012)
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Rod
,
please sign up
.
Be the first to ask a question about Rod
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
I picked up this book with a bit of skepticism - after all, my mom recommended it to me, and my mom has not hidden her unadulterated, passionate love affair with Rod Stewart from me one bit throughout my life. Not a real love affair, mind you - given the multitudes of love affairs referenced in this book, I feel the need to clarify that point. Just a love affair from afar. Let's put it this way - if Rod Stewart had shown up at my front door at any given point during my upbringing, I would've giv
...more
Nov 12, 2012
Everyday eBook
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Everyday by:
Naina Sharma
In honor of Rod Stewart's Rod: The Autobiography, here are eight life lessons and playlist suggestions I took away from this fun, juicy, honest book.
1. "Blondes (Have More Fun)": There's no shame in extreme hair maintenance.
Rod devotes the second chapter of his book to his hair, which, let's face it, we all want to hear about. And, as he says, maybe he is a bit extreme with his hair, but how many other people can say they're recognizable for the spiky tips on the top of their heads?
2. "Maggie Ma ...more
1. "Blondes (Have More Fun)": There's no shame in extreme hair maintenance.
Rod devotes the second chapter of his book to his hair, which, let's face it, we all want to hear about. And, as he says, maybe he is a bit extreme with his hair, but how many other people can say they're recognizable for the spiky tips on the top of their heads?
2. "Maggie Ma ...more
A good old romp: That's what Rod Stewart's life was, and that's what this book was.
Rod Stewart is not a great musician, let's be clear. He's an entertainer, with a phenomenal voice, who's been churning out hit records for forty years. Nor is he a great writer. And this isn't about to be nominated for a Booker prize anytime soon. But that said, he doesn't pretend to be anything other than a bloke who got lucky and made the most of the cards that he was dealt.
What he does have is a great sense o ...more
Rod Stewart is not a great musician, let's be clear. He's an entertainer, with a phenomenal voice, who's been churning out hit records for forty years. Nor is he a great writer. And this isn't about to be nominated for a Booker prize anytime soon. But that said, he doesn't pretend to be anything other than a bloke who got lucky and made the most of the cards that he was dealt.
What he does have is a great sense o ...more
This book was amusing and easy to read. I saw Rod Stewart on Graham Norton promoting his book and it sounded interesting. He is quite a comedian and seems to be a lot of fun. I had no idea model trains were a passion of his, but I knew soccer was. He's definitely not someone I would have wanted to date seriously - he is obviously somewhat of a womanizer, maybe having TOO much fun? Lots of good pictures in the book. Books like these are always great for name-dropping. It is so funny that twice in
...more
Sometimes I read a musician's autobiography, and I like him/her more afterward. Other times, as with this one, I'm left wishing I hadn't read the book at all.
This felt more like bragging rights than telling the story of his life. I learned Rod Stewart is an unapologetic womanizer who loves football (soccer to those of us in the U.S.), trains, and flashy cars. And that's about all I learned.
Stewart comes from a modest family that appeared to be lower middle class. Yet, when his career takes off, ...more
This felt more like bragging rights than telling the story of his life. I learned Rod Stewart is an unapologetic womanizer who loves football (soccer to those of us in the U.S.), trains, and flashy cars. And that's about all I learned.
Stewart comes from a modest family that appeared to be lower middle class. Yet, when his career takes off, ...more
view 2 comments
I started this memoir immediately after finishing Pete Townshend's memoir and while reading I kept comparing it to Pete's book. I feel like I should write a term paper comparing and contrasting the two men. Both born in 1945 in England, went to the same clubs as teens, knew a lot of the same people, recorded at the same studios etc. However, the men are different as night and day. Pete is by far a better musician, a better songwriter and much cleverer than Rod. Also Pete is by far a bigger wanke
...more
Not a bad memoir from a rock star type of book, but still, the vacancy I feel after I read it feels so large in my head and heart. At times charming, but alas, it is a life of sleeping with blondes, marrying blondes, having kids, the love of entertaining, the collection of 19th century art, and being rich. The one thing (among perhaps many) is not to move into a one bedroom apartment. The arena is his friend, and life is just a great kick.
The main reason I wanted to read this, because I'm not r ...more
The main reason I wanted to read this, because I'm not r ...more
Rod Stewart has been one of my idols (along with Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee) since I was a child. If there is a person who has lived the perfect life as far as having love, friends, material goods and a jolly swell time, it is him. His music has been the soundtrack of my life. I have read other biographies by authors and longed for the day when the man himself would tell the tale. After waiting a year after hearing of its release, I have read it in two days and loved it. Rod Stewart fills his li
...more
I cant say I have ever been a very big fan of Rod Stewart although there has been a number of songs over the years that I have really liked but also a few I have hated (like the cringe-worthy Tonight's The Night, lol). Nor have I ever understood the supposed sex appeal factor of him - he doesn't do it for me at all! However, I have to say that in interviews I have seen with him over the past few years he always comes across as quite a nice bloke. After seeing him talking about his autobiography
...more
Wow Rod still looks amazing for his age. I loved this very honest auto biography. The man definitely loves women. I walked past him at the Westcliff hotel and as always regretted not speaking to him. He sure grew up in a very poor household and it looks like he has never forgotten his family and his roots. Very interesting and easy read.
Dec 02, 2014
Bob Schnell
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
music-biographies
,
read-in-2014
Rod "the Mod" Stewart can certainly tell a story. His autobiography is pretty much what you'd expect, but also a bit more. It seems that Rod wants to make a point to show us his soft, nice guy side as well as the philandering, hard-drinking, cocaine-sniffing prankster side. Instead of the usual rock star bio where the outlandish behavior is highlighted until the last "redemption" chapter, Rod gives us stories throughout the timeline to accentuate his love of family and normal hobbies like footba
...more
What can I say. My hero writes a tell-all book. I loved it! Learned things about Rod Stewart I never knew despite reading every biography out there! If you're a Rod Stewart fan, read this book!
I learned many things about Rod. He *really* likes gorgeous blondes. A lot.
He has a wonderful turn of phrase. To my joy he's a fabulous raconteur and a great storyteller too! The story is written in Rod's very own conversationalist voice, and this makes it all the better.
I love an old rocker. I loved Ronnie Wood s and Keith Richards autobiographies, because I love the Stones and I love those guys. Rod, I didn't know so much about. I'm not a super Rod fan, but I really enjoyed this book. Ergo, sci ...more
He has a wonderful turn of phrase. To my joy he's a fabulous raconteur and a great storyteller too! The story is written in Rod's very own conversationalist voice, and this makes it all the better.
I love an old rocker. I loved Ronnie Wood s and Keith Richards autobiographies, because I love the Stones and I love those guys. Rod, I didn't know so much about. I'm not a super Rod fan, but I really enjoyed this book. Ergo, sci ...more
No shortage of ego here! Don't bother with this unless you are a super fan. It's not that well written, and very egotistic, (in my opinion). One chapter dedicated to his hair, and another to his cars. I had to skip over the last half, I couldn't take it anymore. I read it mainly to find out about his early years. How he got started, and his time with the Jeff Beck Group. I can't recommend reading this boook.
My Thoughts...
I never was a fan of Mr. Stewart during the 1960-90s. I had no idea what his life was about in the early days of his career. Well this book was an eye-opener, among other things. I found the book a bit boring, he did so much talking about football/soccer, of which I know nothing about, nor do I care to know about it. I found him a narcissistic arse, as he spells it...
I really never listened to his music until he made the 4 albums of "The Great American Songbook".series. I loved tho ...more
Dec 11, 2014
Marti
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
biography-memoir
,
music-genre
Although this borders on being a "puff piece," I still found it to be amusing and revealing. I liked the stories about his post-war childhood and family life (even the "Football" stories were kind of amusing though meaningless to American readers). As a fan of the music I am definitely more into the Jeff Beck/Faces period, although the craziness of the "Disco" years ("Do You Think I'm Sexy?) makes for a good read. Still, I am glad that at least half the book focuses on his "apprenticeship" years
...more
All I gotta say is I still love Rod. Fabulous book. I felt like he was sitting next to me telling me the story. Berg entertaining.
I thought this was a surprisingly good book. Wouldn't have read it at all, but for the fact that I saw Rod Stewart's appearance plugging the book on the Graham Norton show. I had never actually seen him in an interview before and found him rather intriguing. Admittedly, this presentation of his life is in his own words and is in no way objective, but I have to say that I found him to rather affable. Yes, he is a little preoccupied with his hair. Yes, he was a bit of a hooligan. Yes, he was a ter
...more
High atop the Mount Rushmore of 70’s hair are Farah Fawcett, Roger Daltrey, Keith Richards…and Rod Stewart.
Outside of Joe Cocker, it’s hard to imagine a more recognizable voice from that glorious decade than Stewart’s. At the peak of their powers, the Faces roamed the earth like a mighty, 10-legged punch-drunk beast in search of a cheap bottle of plonk, a place to play, and a few birds to shag after the show. And while it's undeniable that wine and women were at the vortex of the band's legend, ...more
Outside of Joe Cocker, it’s hard to imagine a more recognizable voice from that glorious decade than Stewart’s. At the peak of their powers, the Faces roamed the earth like a mighty, 10-legged punch-drunk beast in search of a cheap bottle of plonk, a place to play, and a few birds to shag after the show. And while it's undeniable that wine and women were at the vortex of the band's legend, ...more
It looks as if Rod Stewart wrote this himself, and the book reads like Rod is sitting in a pub telling you his life story over a pint. As such, it's easy going and very enjoyable stuff, and you cannot help but agree with his summation that he's lived a bit of a charmed life. Just a bit. He wears his success very lightly, and is happy to admit that Lady Luck and being in the right place at the right time played a big part in a lot of his story. In the end though, you have to admit that the talent
...more
This is one of the best rock star biographies out, and a very well written book indeed. Rod started out as a liberal anti-government protestor in the 1960s, who didn’t want to work a normal job. So he became a rhythm and blues singer. He kept improving, paying his dues, and moving up the ladder, until his big break came to join the Jeff Beck group with Ronnie Wood and tour the US. Rod Stewart was never punk or new wave; he was always rock and roll. Rod and Ronnie left Jeff Beck (a selfish jerk)
...more
I really enjoyed Rod, even though I had read bits that had been releases in various websites and magazines, reading it altogether made it all the more entertaining. Truly a life of rock and roll excess, with lots of girls, drugs and music, I still got the impression that Rod Stewart, is a good honest bloke, who loves his family, his friends, model railways and football. He might have had a lot of groupies and girlfriends, but you could tell that he really loved all the women that he lived with l
...more
I enjoyed this Immensely, I've always liked Rod though was not particularly a fan but surprised how many of his records I own especially those with the faces.
It was much as I expected drunkenness debauchery and Pranks Sure he was a womanizer when he was younger and he couldn't commit He must have been hell for his ladies but while he was with them it must have been wild!
The Rachel hunter stuff seemed like his comeuppance and from then on you see a man finally catching u with himself and blessing ...more
It was much as I expected drunkenness debauchery and Pranks Sure he was a womanizer when he was younger and he couldn't commit He must have been hell for his ladies but while he was with them it must have been wild!
The Rachel hunter stuff seemed like his comeuppance and from then on you see a man finally catching u with himself and blessing ...more
I listened to the audio version of this book, as I like to do when an author reads their biography. I think being able to hear the authors voice inflection etc adds to understanding the author. However, in this instance the book would have been a better choice...or at least in the first part of the book. Here the author jumps around a bit and it makes it difficult to follow when listening to. At one time the author gives a list of 5 or 6 questions and then later answers them by just giving the a
...more
This book was so much fun to read. Rod debunks a number of myths, some of which he has encouraged in the past. He admits, for example, that he was never a "pro" soccer player; he wasn't good enough. He discusses songwriting at some length, and I now understand why the guy who wrote "Maggie May" records stuff like "Some Guys Have all the Luck." I was very excited to read that he has been writing songs for the first time in years and has a new rock album, with original songs, coming out soon. When
...more
If you're looking for a tell-all about Rod's women and raunch, you may be a little disappointed. The info is there, for sure, but not front and center as I thought it would be. He is very open about all aspects of his life, from his music career to his women to his love of model trains. It kept my interest.
He did, however, cross a line when he had a section toward the end of the book on advice for fathers. Rod Steward has sired seven children, but I can't say that he has been a father to very ma ...more
He did, however, cross a line when he had a section toward the end of the book on advice for fathers. Rod Steward has sired seven children, but I can't say that he has been a father to very ma ...more
I like Rod Stewart. His music is pretty good -- even the standards he sings now. I liked this book but I have to admit I skimmed through alot of the music stuff and I skipped his Digressions. I just wanted to know about the dirt lol. I had read Alana's book and wanted to see if the stories matched up. To my shock and surprise they did. I was happy to see that Rod was able to admit his mistakes when it came to his relationships. He wasn't afraid to admit them or admit the fact that Rachel Hunter
...more
An interesting trip through a time I thought I knew a great deal about. He is quite honest about himself throughout -- the infidelity, drugs, alcohol and especially his image of himself as a 'rock star.' Even as he is telling his stories about the houses and cars he continues to be astonished that this plumber's son is driving a lambourghini and living in a mansion. He dispelled several of the myths about himself: he was never a grave digger although he did work for a short time in a cemetery. H
...more
Rod Stewart's autobiography proves that knowing too much about cultural heroes might be part of what's wrong with the culture...
See the full review at www.newsoutherngentleman.wordpress.com - link available at my Goodreads page. Thanks for stopping by! :-)
See the full review at www.newsoutherngentleman.wordpress.com - link available at my Goodreads page. Thanks for stopping by! :-)
LOVE HIM OR HATE HIM?
for me it's mixed emotions really. But to review the book itself, it is a fantastic journey through time as well as his own timeline. I think he's been as honest as he could have been. He highlights his failings with a certain ease yet finds it hard to compliment himself when things have gone right.
I've seen Rod as a great performer though musically I'm more in tune with Bowie/Jagger/Richards. Maybe if Rod believed in himself more, I would have believed more in him? All that ...more
for me it's mixed emotions really. But to review the book itself, it is a fantastic journey through time as well as his own timeline. I think he's been as honest as he could have been. He highlights his failings with a certain ease yet finds it hard to compliment himself when things have gone right.
I've seen Rod as a great performer though musically I'm more in tune with Bowie/Jagger/Richards. Maybe if Rod believed in himself more, I would have believed more in him? All that ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Article on "Rod the Autobiography" | 3 | 31 | Feb 10, 2014 06:39PM |
In the Sixties and Seventies, Rod Stewart was a jet-setting bon vivant and blond sex symbol with a grizzled-yet-buoyant voice. He tasted fame with Jeff Beck Group and then the Faces, but Stewart's most significant commercial success came as a solo artist. After garnering initial critical acclaim for his unerring choice of cover material, Stewart in the late Seventies began to lean toward self-mock
...more
More about Rod Stewart...
“..the power outage caused the stage manager to drop the curtain - much to the surprise of Ronnie Wood, who was standing directly underneath it at the time and was almost killed by about half a ton of falling velvet (because, let me tell you, in those days a curtain was a curtain.) It was while we were backstage, getting the power restored, that I noticed I had spent the entire opening number with my flies undone.”
—
2 likes
“A set list? Set lists were for wimps. Wimps and professionals. Better to just get out there and communicate the set by shouting the old Faces' battle cry: "What number are we doing?”
—
2 likes
More quotes…
