Rod Stewart: "All I Am Saying is Give Farage a Chance"!

This week's performances at Glastonbury have been for many controversial. And for others, nothing controversial. Bob Vylan got into trouble for saying "Kill the IDF". Kneecap, an Irish rap group, is known for its support for Palestine. Crowds at both performances at Worthy Farm, Glastonbury, carried Palestinian flags. Sir Keir Starmer condemned the artists being allowed to play there. The BBC cut the feed to Bob Vylan, and ironically, the scene flashed to Kneecap.

Amongst the veteran performers was one Rodney Stewart. Rod the Mod, as he used to be called. Well known for hits like "Maggie May", "Do You Think Im Sexy" and "Baby Jane" to mention but a few. Stewart, last time I saw him perform, looked with all respect, past it! I wasn't present at this performance, so I'll reserve judgment. If you were there and saw the old rocker, let me know if his performance was entertaining. I'm sure at 80, just like the Stones, he tries his best.

Stewart was recently asked if he admired anyone in today's music scene. The only artist he said was George Ezra. A UK singer and guitarist. Perhaps his silence on today's music scene probably says it all.

Kneecap and Bob Vylan were being political, so was Rod. In an interview and at Glastonbury, Rod got on the political bandwagon with Bob Vylan and Kneecap. However, he endorsed Nigel Farage and Reform UK. Reform UK has won parliamentary seats, mayoral elections, and local elections. Putting Labour, the Conservatives, et al on notice.

According to some polls, if a general election were held today, Reform UK would emerge as the largest party. The next general election will be in 2029. That's if in the meantime we don't all blow ourselves to hell. Stewart said: "What options have we got"? Stewart said Starmer has made himself unpopular and "We're fed up of the Tories". Stewart admitted he was an extremely wealthy man and, by his own words, "deserved to be"!

Stewart said he knew Mr. Farage's family and knew his brother, and he found them likeable. Mr. Stewart condemned Donald Trump's treatment of Vlodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House for not wearing a suit and tie. He also said Ukraine should be supported in its war with Russia. I said he did not like the ultra-Conservatives who made up Trump's cabinet. There was a time when Stewart and Trump got on and moved in the same circles.

Stewart is on the same page as Bob Vylan and Knee Cap. He has condemned Netanyahu's war in Gaza. Stewart didn't pull his punches saying Israel is acting with the Palestinians as the Nazis acted with them. This is a controversial view for many, but it is understandable. I was listening to one of George Galloway's rants last night on his show, MOATS or The Mother of All Talk Shows. Galloway said he was looking at the Israeli media, where an Israeli student in America had signed up for the IDF. He said when fighting in Gaza and seeing the destruction there he felt like he was a Nazi and the Palestinians were the Jews. This statement is- taboo for many. But the soldier was speaking of how he felt. Like history was repeating itself.

Glastonbury, whether it be Bob Vylan, Kneecap, or Rod Stewart, shows free speech is alive and well in some circumstances. Some will question Stewart's political support for Reform UK, and yet he condemns the equivalent in America with Donald Trump. Perhaps Stewart doesn't realise that Farage wants to be the British Trump. Or he thinks, whatever, we've had the Tories, Labour, now it's time to give "Farage a chance".

What John Lennon, no stranger to political controversy himself, would have made of "Give Farage a chance" instead of peace is unknown. However, if he were still present with us, he would have called out Stewart's hypocrisy, perhaps.