Rod Stewart: Sport saved me from drugs

Rod Stewart says his love of sport stopped him becoming hooked on drugs.

The rocker recently released his autobiography, in which he opens up about his wild life. Although he dabbled in illegal substances as a younger man they never became a problem for him, which he puts down to his love of soccer.

'Absolutely,' he replied, when asked if his interest in the game saved him. 'I've always been into keeping myself physically fit, for my career. I never bought any either. I never bought any drugs.

'I have to stress that the drug taking was such a small part of it, it was more social than anything. I never went to rehab, it never affected any relationships it never affected my kids or career.'

The 67-year-old star never expected to make it in the music business as he didn't think he was good looking enough. He credits his father with getting him interested in song writing, even though at the time he wasn't very impressed with the instrument his dad offered him.

'[My family] were 100 per cent behind me,' he told UK TV show Loose Women. 'I wanted something for me model railway, I was about 13 or 14, and dad brought home a guitar. I don't know if it fell off the back of a lorry. It started my career. He's responsible, bless him.'

Rod has four siblings and decided to pen his book now so he could pump them for information. He is the youngest and was touched by how much they remembered from his childhood.

He admits getting 'teary eyed' when hearing their stories and thinking about his life has made his thankful for everything he's been through.

'From the bottom of my heart I don't get sick of any of my songs because I'm so lucky to be up there,' he said. 'I don't take myself too seriously. I've just been incredibly lucky. I think talent is one thing but you've got to have the luck.'