Rod Stewart makes his own political statement at Glasto after backing Reform as he is joined by rock legends — amid fury at Bob Vylan’s ‘appalling’ anti-Israel chant  

Rod Stewart has made his own political statement at Glastonbury while performing in front of a huge crowd at the Pyramid Stage on the final day of a festival that has been dominated by controversy. 

Earlier in the weekend, punk duo Bob Vylan led revellers in a chant of ‘death to the IDF’ prompting condemnation from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who branded the remarks ‘appalling’, and triggering a police probe.

The UK’s self-proclaimed ‘most violent band’ also sang the words ‘free, free Palestine’ and declared ‘from the river to the sea Palestine…will be free’, a chorus regarded by many in the Jewish communitiy as a call for Israel’s elimination. 

On the same day, Naoise O Caireallain, a singer in controversial Irish group Kneecap, urged the crowd to ‘riot’ outside Westminster magistrates in August when bandmate Liam O’hAnnaidh’s terror offence charge returns to court.

Pop star JADE, meanwhile, led an enthusiastic crowd at her set in chanting ‘f**k you’ towards ‘Reform, welfare cuts, transphobia, silencing protests, selling arms and justifying genocide’. 

But old rocker Stewart, who backed Reform in a recent interview with The Times, had a different message for the masses at Worthy Farm on Sunday as he dedicated a song to Ukraine while also acknowledging the conflict in the Middle East.

The crooner, 80, dedicated a cover of The O’Jays 1972 hit Love Train to the eastern European country, amid its ongoing war with Russia.

Rod addressed the crowd: ‘There’s been a lot about the Middle East lately, quite rightly so, but I want to draw your attention to the Ukraine with the next song, called The Love Train.’ 

The Do Ya Think I’m Sexy singer’s forray into politics comes after he urged voters to give Nigel Farage’s nascent party a chance as he criticised both Sir Keir and the Conservatives. 

In particular, he was critical of the Prime Minister’s decision to cut off fishing in Scotland and give it back to the EU, saying this move has not made him popular. 

He also thinks the nation is fed up with the Tories.

The rock legend said: ‘We’ve got to give Farage a chance. He’s coming across well. Nigel?  What options have we got? I know some of his family, I know his brother, and I quite like him.’

He also explained he doesn’t think he is out of touch with ordinary people, even though he is ‘extremely wealthy’. 

Asked what Mr Farage stands for aside from Brexit, tighter immigration and controversial economic promises he replied: ‘Yeah, yeah. But Starmer’s all about getting us out of Brexit and I don’t know how he’s going to do that.

‘Still, the country will survive. It could be worse. We could be in the Gaza Strip.’

His views represent a second volte-face given that he appeared to support Labour at last year’s election – despite previously backing the Conservatives. 

Sir Rod also seemed unconvinced Sir Keir was going to fully address one of his personal pet hates.

Three years ago, the singer donned a hi-vis jacket and rang around friends asking for help filling in potholes outside his Essex house.

‘I took me Ferrari out. Nearly lost the f***ing wheel,’ he said. ‘And before I did in the Ferrari, I saw an ambulance that couldn’t move, the wheel stuck right in there.

‘So I took me mates out, and we knew what to do because I had builders in the house. We filled in a considerable length of the road, actually.’

He added that potholes were still present ‘all over Britain’ in contrast to Europe.

Rod’s political message came after police launched a probe into comments made by Bob Vylan, who led chants of ‘Free Palestine‘ and ‘Death to the IDF’, on stage yesterday afternoon.

The singer from the band, who keeps his identity secret, also declared ‘from the river to the sea Palestine… will be free’.

The BBC also weighed in on the saga, adding of Bob Vylan: ‘Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive.

‘During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language.

‘We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.’

Stewart was joined by some fellow legends for the occasion, first bringing out Rolling Stones icon Ronnie Wood to play guitar for him on a rendition of Stay With Me. 

Rod passed the stage to Ronnie, 78, for a guitar solo and the old pals sang together on the chorus before Scottish hitmaker Lulu, 76, joined them on stage. 

Lulu looked sensational in an all-white ensemble consisting of fringed trousers and a blazer as the duo got the crowd hyped up with a version of Hot Legs. 

Rod certainly put on a show for the packed out audience, with Mick Hucknall also joining him on stage, multiple costume changes, glitzy backing singers and a nod to his true love Celtic.

However, viewers were distinctly split over Rod’s performance, with some praising him as a ‘total legend’ and proclaiming ‘he’s still got it’, while others branding him ‘painful’, ‘out of tune’ and like ‘a tribute act’. 

Walking on stage with his huge band and mini-dressed clad backing singers to the sound of bag pipes, the 80-year-old rocker told the thousands gathered: ‘Oi Oi I’m here, enjoy yourselves ladies and gentlemen please!’

He kicked off his set with his hit Tonight I’m Yours before telling fans how ‘music brings us together, we’re having a party’ and going into Having A Party.

After a rendition of Some Guys Have All The Luck, he stopped to catch his breath and remove his sparkling jacket in the searing heat, telling fans: ‘This is so lovely. I’m so excited I can hardly breathe.’

Dipping into his bag of ballads, he did his version of First Cut Is The Deepest followed by his 1976 track, Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright).

He then announced to the crowd that they could expect him to be joined by Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall and Lulu, as well as his The Faces bandmate and Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood.

After bringing out some his classic hits, including fan-favourite, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?, Rod paid tribute to Glastonbury founder Sir Michael Eavis.

His daughter Emily pushed him onstage in a wheelchair, where he received a hug from Rod, who dedicated I Don’t Want To Talk About It to him.

And Rod’s wife Penny Lancaster was ever the supporting partner as she took snaps of the rock star from the side of the stage. 

Rod ended his iconic show with an emotional performance of I Am Sailing as he sported a sailor’s hat as his backing singers sported Celtic football tops in honour of his beloved team. 

But the set left fans divided over Rod’s performance, and taking to social media, fans wrote: ‘Fantastic performance from Rod at 80!!! Amazing…..’; ‘Watching Rod Stewart at Glastonbury, legend’.

‘Like him or not. Rod Stewart has still got it!! He’s a showman, great entertainer, and can work a crowd. You go Rod! ! Big shout out to his Band’.

‘Poor Rod is struggling in this heat. I’ve seen him live a few times and he’s better than this usually. Respect to him though, he’s 80. Love him ❤️’.

‘Fair play Rod Stewart he has still got it !!! Great band around him as well.’; ‘This rod Stewart set upto now is absolutely class. What a total legend’

‘Like him or loath him. Kicking Glasto at 80 years young. Bringing some much needed fun and smiles to UK.’

However, others less-than-impressed viewers took to X to admit: ‘Ok #RodStewart is great but I do feel like I’m stuck watching a tribute act.’

‘God, this is dreadful’; ‘Rod Stewart isn’t that bad, once you’ve accustomised yourself to the key he’s singing in….’

‘Christ this is painful.’; ‘I’m thinking maybe #RodStewart over the hill, voice is long gone’; ‘Can someone please take their drunk grandad home’.

‘Wow this is like watching a rather poor Ron Steward tribute act.’; ‘The sound of Rod’s high notes remind me of the noise I heard when I accidentally stood on my dogs tail’.

‘Rod is dying out there. Not an ounce of soul — even during his lazy cover of Love Train — and his own ‘classics’ have not aged well on this showing.’

‘DAMMIT. Almost managed to get over the fence at #Glastonbury but was caught by security and told to go back and carry on watching the Rod Stewart set.’

‘Even the sign language person is out of tune.’; ‘Does Rod Stewart know he has to ‘sing’ and not talk the lyrics…. total garbage’.

‘Rod Stewart has really lost his voice — but doing ok for an old codger with loads of money to keep him fit and moving. Not sure he has hit one right note yet.’

‘I’m outraged the @bbc would broadcast something so horrifying in the middle of the afternoon, my kids have just seen Rod Stewart and now they are crying.’

Shortly before his slot, Rod’s wife Penny Lancaster arrived at Glastonbury festival to support her husband.

She was joined by her sons, model Alistair, 19, who was wearing a leopard print coat in preparation for his father’s set and Aiden, 14.

The matriarch, 54, looked very bohemian as she wore a tassel coat, oversized sunglasses, balloon trousers and a leopard print bag.

The 80-year-old singer’s teatime set comes the day after he claimed the country was ‘fed up’ with the Tories and that Labour was trying to ditch Brexit.

He accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of giving Scottish fishing rights ‘back to the EU’, although the Government insists it has simply renewed an existing deal for European boats.