THE last time Rod Stewart saw Cumbria it was on TV, and underwater. “I was in America when it was going on,” he tells the News & Star of last December’s floods.

“CNN covered it very well. It’s heartbreaking. It seems to happen every year, in the States as well. Hurricanes in the Midwest and tornadoes.

“People build their houses up to try and protect them because they don’t want to move.

“I think the Government is to blame for not spending enough on flood defences.”

He pauses.

“If in doubt, blame the Government!”

The News & Star has been granted Rod’s only newspaper interview ahead of his summer tour of UK football grounds.

The final date is at Carlisle United’s Brunton Park in June.

He calls from London, saying: “It’s sunny here. How’s the weather there? Has it dried out yet?”

Rod’s concern for the county was also expressed in a £10,000 donation to Carlisle United’s flood appeal.

When told how much this was appreciated in Cumbria, he says: “Think nothing of it.”

United’s chairman Andrew Jenkins is among those who were grateful.

Jenkins is also chairman of food firm Pioneer. On hearing about Rod’s donation in January he said: “I will find out if he likes meat and give him something just to say thank you.”

Rod confirms that he is a keen carnivore. So what would he like from Jenkins’ table?

“Sausages,” he says. “A truckload of sausages! I’ve had Cumberland sausage – there’s a shop down the road where I live in the country.”

Then he laughs and adds: “How did we get to talking about sausages?”

Rod made his donation after reading that United had contacted top-flight clubs in England and Scotland, seeking raffle prizes for a flood fundraiser. Only Sunderland, Everton and Rangers obliged.

“Have they had anything more from the big boys?” he asks.

Not as far as we know.

He responds with a swear word.

Football has long been a passion. Although born and raised in London, with the accent to prove it, Rod is a devoted fan of Celtic and Scotland. His father Robert was Scottish.

Rod has appeared at Brunton Park before – in a charity football match on a cold December afternoon in 1992.

“It was a great day out,” he recalls. “I think [former Scotland footballers] Jimmy Johnstone and Billy Bremner were playing. I can’t remember many of the concerts but I remember all the charity football matches.”

For most other people, Rod’s music stays longer in the memory than his football.

He is rock ‘n’ roll royalty. Record sales: more than 200 million.

Now 71, he has remained successful for nearly half a century, since his emergence with The Jeff Beck Group and The Faces.

Since Rod’s solo career took off in the early 1970s his songs have become the soundtrack to countless lives.

Rock songs. Ballads. Even a late-70s’ diversion into disco. Rod has survived and thrived through numerous fashions.

Few artists have such a potent back catalogue. There have been six British chart-toppers: Maggie May, You Wear It Well, Sailing, I Don’t Want To Talk About It, Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? and Baby Jane.

Other hits include Hot Legs, Every Beat Of My Heart, Downtown Train and Rhythm Of My Heart.

Last year Rod released his 29th solo album, Another Country.

So how on earth does he decide what to sing in his live shows?

“That’s what I’m trying to work out at the moment,” he says. “I’m leaving next week to go to LA to rehearse for Las Vegas. [He is playing nine shows at Caesars Palace].

“It’s monumental, the amount of songs I can rely on. I’m not complaining – four decades’ worth.

“We’ll be doing a few from the most recent albums. But I’m not one who believes in shoving a load of new songs down the public’s throat. They’re here to hear what made me famous.

“If I saw Sam Cooke I’d want to hear him singing Bring It On Home to Me and Twistin’ the Night Away.”

How does it feel to stand on stage with thousands of faces staring back?

“It’s the most natural high you can possibly have,” he says. “It’s a very privileged position. I don’t take it lightly if I manage to attract 20,000 or 30,000 or 40,000 people.”

Does he get nervous?

“I wouldn’t say it was nerves. It’s a jittery anticipation. Unlike a football match, no-one’s going to lose. We all go home happy.”

Football is rarely far away. He quips that he is in a bad mood because his beloved Celtic only drew last night.

Disappointing football results aside, being Rod Stewart sounds pretty good.

“I’ve got eight tremendous children, a gorgeous wife, my career’s going well. Saying that, I’ll probably be hit by a bus when I go outside!”

Presuming he avoids this fate, does Rod have a message for his fans in Cumbria?

“It’s going to be a wonderful show. I do hope the sun shines. But if not we’ll still have a lot of fun. It will be a sexy, wonderful, colourful show. And you’ll hear every song you want to hear.”

  • Rod performs at Brunton Park on the evening of Tuesday, June 21. Tickets are available from www.ticketline.co.uk
  • Cumbrian Newspapers’ Readers’ Travel is offering coach and ticket packages from Aspatria, Barrow, Dumfries, Hexham, Maryport, Newcastle, Penrith, Ulverston, Millom, Whitehaven, Wigton and Workington. Call 01228 612211.