THE sound of bagpipes heralded the arrival of Rod Stewart in Hove and his loyal fans couldn’t have been more excited.

With a flash of fireworks Rod the Mod leapt on stage at The County Ground in a gold brocade jacket, glittery trainers - and a necklace spelling out the name of his beloved Celtic.

And for more than two hours the crowd was transported back to his heyday - he may be 74 but he’s still a rocker with that gravelly voice as strong as ever. He even still holds the mic stand in that inimitable Rod way.

Charming, funny and self-deprecating, he had the audience in thrall.

Most were of a certain age, evidenced by the ecstatic reaction when he sang Tonight’s The Night (‘this one’s from 1976’).

It was a night of humour and emotion. Rod shouted out to the crowds ‘watching from their ivory towers’ - the flats around the cricket ground - and promised he’d ‘stay with them’.

Then he performed a heartfelt rendition of Rhythm Of My Heart, dedicated to the D-Day veterans he met at the recent 75th anniversary events in Southampton.

‘What an experience,’ he said.

‘I was kissing men on the top of their heads because I loved them. This is for those who sacrificed everything for our precious freedom’.

He was clearly loving it and didn’t want to leave the stage.

With a minute to curfew he told the sell out crowd: ‘stupid rule, f*** it let’s have another’ and launched into Stay With Me before departing with a bang - literally, to more fireworks.

Fifty years to the month after he recorded his first album Rod Stewart is still a megastar.

Pictures: Stephen Lawrence