DAILY DIRT: Every picture has truly told a story for Rod the Mod

I’m not sure what is more impressive, Stewart’s ongoing success or the age range of his kids … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 834 of The Daily Dirt.

1. In yesterday’s Daily Dirt we celebrated the birth of Elvis Presley. Today, we honor another legend — Sir Rod Stewart.

Stewart turns 79 on Wednesday, and despite an estimated worth of more than $320 million, Rod the Mod continues to tour and perform.

The Scottish-born superstar first attained worldwide recognition and popularity in 1971 with the release of the legendary “Every Picture Tells A Story” album and the “Maggie May” single. Stewart’s career, and the world in general, have never been the same since.

If you were wondering about the “Sir Rod” reference earlier, it was eight years ago when Prince William knighted Stewart for his contributions to music and charity. 

Here are a few off-the-beaten path facts about Stewart you might not be aware of:

• In 1969, Stewart and good friend Ronnie Wood were brought into the band Small Faces, which then dropped the “Small” from their name. Soon afterward, however, Wood left to join the Rolling Stones and Stewart embarked upon what has become his historic solo career.
• Stewart has eight kids, ranging in age from 12 to 61.
• Stewart is a bigtime model train enthusiast, and in his Los Angeles home has devoted 1,500 square feet — the equivalent of 10 bedrooms — to his train sets.
• He once had a job as a screen printer designing wallpaper. When his bosses discovered he was color blind, he was laid off.
• It takes Stewart just two minutes to style his trademark spiky rooster hair. “Get the hairdryer, put a bit of product in it, dry it upside down to make it all stand up,” he says. “Then put a bit of wax on, which didn’t exist when I started this haircut, making it stand up using sugar and water.”
• He’s been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, once as a member of Faces and the other as a solo act.

2. My 10 favorite Rod Stewart songs:

• 1. “I Don’t Wanna Talk About It” (1975).
• 2. “The First Cut Is The Deepest” (1976)
• 3. “Maggie May” (1971).
• 4. “You’re In My Heart” (1977).
• 5. “Some Guys Have All The Luck” (1985).
• 6. “Tonight’s The Night” (1976).
• 7. “Reason To Believe” (1971).
• 8. “You Wear It Well” (1972).
• 9. “Downtown Train” (1989)
• 10. “What A Wonderful World” (2004)

3. This week’s NFL playoff predictions:

Houston 24, Cleveland 20: Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is the real deal.

Miami 28, Kansas City 24: Not even Taylor Swift can bail out the Chiefs.

Buffalo 35, Pittsburgh 7: This one could get ugly early.

Dallas 31, Green Bay 14: The Packers have the youngest roster in the NFL, and that will be a problem in this game.

Detroit 31, Los Angeles Rams 17: The Lions now have the sharpest helmets in the NFL.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — In honor Sir Rod, I will be spiking my hair today.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Steve thought San Francisco was playing Philly this week, so we had to omit that pick. Philly is at Tampa Bay and SF has the NFC bye.