Rod Stewart has taken a swipe at fellow UK musician Ed Sheeran, dissing not only the pop star’s music, but also his hair color.
In a recent interview with The Times, Stewart was asked whether he thought timeless songs were still being made, like his own “Maggie May.” While Stewart was trying to remember the name of a “really talented” British artist, the interviewer brought up Sheeran, prompting Stewart to roast the international superstar.
“No, not Ed, I don’t know any of his songs, old ginger bollocks,” Stewart scoffed.
Considering Sheeran has landed seven straight No. 1 albums on the UK charts and released inescapable hits like “Shape of You” and “Thinking Out Loud,” we’re not quite sure how Stewart has escaped his music, but ignorance must be bliss.
As it turns out, Stewart was thinking of folk singer George Ezra, best known in the US for his breakout hit, “Budapest.” The song appears on Ezra’s 2014 debut album, Wanted on Voyage. “I think he writes really tremendous songs,” Stewart said about Ezra. “He’ll be around for quite a while.”
Stewart is currently promoting his upcoming album, Swing Fever, a big band covers album recorded with Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. It’s out on February 23rd, and he’ll be on the road throughout 2024 in support. Grab tickets for North American dates here and international shows here.
Meanwhile, Sheeran has an international tour of his own in support of his Aaron Dessner-produced 2023 album, Autumn Variations, including headlining gigs at BottleRock Napa and Boston Calling. Get your seats for his North American concerts here and overseas dates here.
