Rod Stewart Feels Unwell on Utah Stage, Uses Oxygen During Show

Rod Stewart experienced a worrying moment during his concert Wednesday night in Utah, where he appeared to struggle to stay on his feet and, according to TMZ, needed help from an oxygen tank on stage. Video obtained by the entertainment site showed the singer leaning on instruments, barriers, and a stage-side pole as he tried to keep performing.

Despite the difficulty, Stewart continued playing and even kept time by tapping his foot. At one point, backstage crew members came over to help him, and one was seen bringing an oxygen tank. Stewart then took several deep breaths from it while the show went on.

TMZ reported that Stewart told the crowd he had “almost fainted,” drawing laughter from the audience despite the tense moment. He finished the performance sitting on a chair after needing to rest his legs.

The exact cause of his condition was not known. TMZ noted that the concert took place in West Valley City, which sits at about 1,310 meters above sea level, and suggested the altitude may have affected him more than expected. The 81-year-old musician had recently canceled a San Diego show because of laryngitis, although he felt well enough to attend a World Cup match the next day. TMZ said it had asked Stewart for comment, but had not yet received a response.