Rod Stewart gave his fans a scare on Friday night when he nearly fainted mid-performance at a concert in Utah and had to be brought an oxygen tank on stage.
Rod Stewart was performing at the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre in West Valley City on June 19 when he began to look visibly unsteady during his hit “Young Turks,” leaning on instruments, stage barriers and a pole for support as he continued singing.
After the song finished, crew members brought an oxygen tank onto the stage and Stewart took several deep breaths before carrying on. The 81-year-old rock icon pushed through regardless and finished the show but did so seated in a chair.
He addressed the crowd directly, telling fans he had “dang near fainted” while still managing to crack a few jokes to lighten the mood.
West Valley City sits at around 4,300 feet above sea level, an altitude that can cause breathing difficulties, particularly for older performers. Stewart’s team has not commented on what caused Friday’s episode.
Not Stewart’s first health scare this month
The incident is the latest in a string of health setbacks for Stewart in recent weeks. Earlier this month he canceled a show in Chula Vista, California after being diagnosed with an acute upper respiratory infection that led to laryngitis.
He then canceled two further shows at Red Rocks Amphitheater on June 15 and 16, with doctors ordering strict vocal rest.
The cancellations drew some criticism after Stewart was spotted boarding a private jet to attend a World Cup match less than 24 hours after pulling out of the California show.
Fans were divided with some questioning the timing and others pointing out that watching a game is a very different physical demand from performing on stage for two hours.