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Rod Stewart doesn’t think Ed Sheeran’s music will ‘stand the test of time’

Safe to say he isn't the biggest fan of 'old gingers b***cks', as he refers to him.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 13th February 2024

British music legend Sir Rod Stewart has said that he doesn’t believe Ed Sheeran’s music will stand the test of time, even going so far as to claim he ‘doesn’t know any of his songs’.

Somehow ‘Shape of You’ and all the other number ones passed him by, apparently.

The rather surprising quote comes from a recent interview with The Times in which he talked about everything from his own music career, politics, collaborating with Jools Holland on a new swing album and his favourite songs of all time.

Highlighting tunes like ‘Uptown Funk’ by Bruno Mars and Prefab Sprout’s ‘Cars and Girls’, he was then asked if he thinks ‘timeless’ songs are still being made. Replying, “You mean like ‘Maggie May’? Songs that’ll be played in 50 years? I like whatshisname… British, really talented and his songs will be around.”

It was at this point that interviewer Jonathan Dean suggested Ed Sheeran, to which the 79-year-old simply responded, “No, not Ed — I don’t know any of his songs, old ginger b***cks. Jesus…”

It’s a bit of a hot take, to say the least.

All right, Rod, tell us how you really feel, why don’t you?

As the article goes on to detail, Stewart then began to sing “I’ll be riding shotgun…” and Dean quickly confirmed that George Ezra was the artist he’d been trying to think of.

“Yes! I think he writes really tremendous songs”, Rod continues, “He’ll be around for quite a while.”

So, yeah, despite being one of the best-selling British music artists of all time himself, Rod seems to be fairly oblivious to the company he keeps in that bracket, as Ed Sheeran is also just outside of the top 50 best-selling artists of all time (57th) — even in the modern age of streaming.

While Rod Stewart ranks 16th in the charts with an EAS (equivalent album sales) total of 191,663,000, Ed isn’t too far behind him when it comes to the stats on 102.8m. Meanwhile, George Ezra — whether you and Rod might prefer him or not — isn’t in the top 100 and has several less number-one hits.

rod stewart doesn't know any ed sheeran songs
Credit: Stephen Lavoie via iRocktograph
george ezra rod stewart
Credit: George Ezra (via YouTube)

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Whether Rod Stewart truly doesn’t know any Ed Sheeran tracks or not, it goes without saying that most people do and the Halifax-born singer-songwriter has countless memorable tracks to his name.

‘A-Team’, ‘Thinking Out Loud’, ‘Bad Habits’, ‘Castle on the Hill’ — we could go on but unlike Rod you already now all the others.

They’re usually driven into your skull for months on end over the radio and the 32-year-old continues to break music records around the globe every year, having also become the first artist in history to ever have four albums chart inside the UK’s Official Albums Chart Top 10 for a full year.

What do you reckon, will Ed Sheeran’s music be remembered decades from now and, also, how many people will still remember Rod Stewart’s songs in the years to come?

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Featured Images — Joe Bielawa (via Wikimedia Commons)/Harald Krichel

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Adidas drop Liam and Noel Gallagher SPZL trainers

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Adidas drop Liam and Noel Gallagher SPZL trainers

Liam and Noel Gallagher have teamed up with adidas once again to create their very own SPZL trainers.

The sportswear giant has today dropped the designs for the adidas LG Achille SPZL and the adidas NG Marathon SPZL.

The sure-to-sell-out trainers will officially hit shelves in the new Manchester adidas store, and other stockists, next weekend.

The footwear drop coincides with the ongoing Oasis reunion tour, which attracted hundreds of thousands of people to the city when they played five nights in Heaton Park.

Liam and Noel themselves have maintained a close relationship with Gary Aspden, curator of the adidas SPZL range, for more than two decades.

They’re often seen sporting the iconic trainers and creating product collaborations, and now they’re back with a new Three Stripes partnership and their very own new adidas SPZL trainers.

Up first is Liam Gallaghers’s adidas SPZL, with the Oasis frontman asking to bring back a revised version of an archival runner, the adidas Achille.

Adidas drop Liam and Noel Gallagher SPZL trainers
Adidas drop Liam and Noel Gallagher SPZL trainers

The LG Achille SPZL features a khaki mesh base, chocolate brown stripes, a beige suede T-toe overlay, and a sand outside, with a motif of Liam on the tongue of the shoe.

Noel Gallagher’s NG Marathon SPZLs are his first collaborations with the brand since his immediate sell-out shoes back in 2017.

His are a new hybrid inspired by the adidas Marathon 85 silhouette, keeping the suede upper and rubber outsole of the Marathon 85 but with a deep navy/sky blue palette with a reworked toe box and midsole, as well as details like the Eco-Tex tongue and tonal eyelets.

Both shoes feature a portrait of their namesakes on the tongue, as well as spare laces, co-branded sock liners, and commemorative packaging.

The adidas LG Achille SPZL and the adidas NG Marathon SPZL are set to launch via adidas SPZL stockists and the adidas Carnaby and MCR retail stores on 16 August.

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Featured image: adidas

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Oasis are being linked with a massive outdoor gig next year

Danny Jones Danny Jones Oasis rumoured for Slane Castle outdoor gig 2026

After 16 long years of waiting, Oasis are officially the biggest band on the planet again (not that they ever really stopped), and now they’re being linked with a rather big outdoor gig at the storied Slane Castle next year.

They’ve already done Knebworth, so why not tick another one off the list?

With the Live ’25 reunion tour well underway, and rumblings over what they’re going to do once this run of global comeback shows is done, Britpop fever hasn’t just had fans of the band reliving the 1990s – it’s practically taken over the music world.

There’s already plenty of talk circling – including a potential return to Knebworth – but now Oasis is pretty much the first and only name being tipped for a huge headline slot at Slane Castle, after 2026 dates were slated by the estate’s owners.

slaine castle gigs
Slane Castle hosted natives, U2, for their Go Home live concert film back in 2002. (Credit: Sara Einarsson via WikiCommons)

While Harry Styles played Ireland’s historic and equally iconic venue back in 2023, the Co Meath concerts, located in the heart of the Boyne Valley, have somewhat dried up in recent years.

Prior to the former One Direction star, the last major musicians to play there were rock and heavy metal veterans, Metallica, more than half a decade ago.

However, the new lord of the manor, Alex Conyngham, is now looking to carry on where his father, Henry Mountcharles, left off in carrying on their live music legacy; and given that another legendary rock and roll band is pretty much anyone can talk about at the minute, their name has already been put forward.

As per the Drogheda Independent writer, John Kierans, Conyngham is reported to have said: “We want to bring the shows back, we miss them. It is not just about the revenue, but keeping the name of Slane as a rock venue on the map.

“It is what Slane Castle is known for, and I don’t want that legacy to fade away. This is one of the world’s great rock and roll venues with the most natural setting. We are working on plans, and hopefully we can pull something off for next year.”

While Oasis are due to play two nights at Croke Park in Dublin later this month, there is now a strong belief/expectation that a number of 2026 dates will also be announced. But will the stars align?

The Gallaghers’ obvious Irish connection has only added further fuel to the fire, though some people believe that Liam has already let the cat out of the bag regarding a second residency at Knebworth – or rather, third, in his case.

It’s also worth mentioning that they’ve played the 1,500-acre grounds before. Twice, in fact.

The first occasion was in July 1995, supporting R.E.M just before they hit arguably the height of their own powers with the release of their second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? just a few months later, on 2 October.

Burnage‘s most famous sons and their bandmates go to do it all over again in 2009 (the same year they would eventually split up), with some incredible ‘warm-up acts’ in The Prodigy, Kasabian and Glasvegas.

Phwoar…

Let’s be honest, either of those artists could probably book and sell out the place these days, so god knows how much a ticket for that lineup would set you back present day.

Regardless, if there’s one band that fits the billing to bring back the Slane Castle gigs at their boldest and best, it’s the almighty Oasis.

Whether or not the heavily rumoured 2026 dates are domestic to the UK and Ireland, we’ll have to wait and see, but the clamour is already there, no matter where they sign on to perform.

If you were at Heaton Park or had the fortune of seeing any of the Live ’25 shows, you’ll know they still sound as good as ever.

Oasis are clearly doing something very deliberate for the as-yet-unconfirmed Live ’25 reunion album

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Featured Images — Sitomon (via Flickr)/Kinsie84 (via Wikimedia Commons)/Press Shots

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