By the time 1988 rolled around, pop-rock icon Rod Stewart was already on his fifteenth studio album, Out of Order. This album was his most successful one from the 1980s, offering high-voltage hits like "Lost In You," "My Heart Can't Tell You No," "Crazy About Her," and of course the greatest hit off the album - "Forever Young."
The day of its release, July 3rd 1988, Stewart played a gig that would go down in history at the Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Thirty years ago exactly, Stewart busted out his dance moves along with a 15-song setlist to a stadium of hundreds. The Out of Order Tour would last until August 1989. But it was at this particular show where Stewart performed "Forever Young" for the very first time.
"Forever Young" is a wholesome, pure and sentimental rock song that not only showcases the best of Stewarts patent rasp, but is lyrically relatable to anyone who has children. The Brit told Mojo Magazine in 1995 that it's one of his personal favorite songs -
"I love 'Forever Young', because that was a real heartfelt song about my kids. I suddenly realized I'd missed a good five years of Sean and Kimberly's life because I was so busy touring all the time. With these kids now I don't make that mistake- I take them on tour with me, so I can watch them grow up. So that's another favorite. Unfortunately, it wasn't a big hit in England, but it's like a national anthem here (America)."
It's true, us Americans love this jam and so did everyone at that Miami Gardens concert 30 years ago today. The set included loads of other Stewart jams like "Tonight's the Night (Gunna Be Alright)," "Hot Legs," "Young Turks," "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" and "Maggie May." The setlist even saw "Passion," a track that the legend stopped performing in 2011, and "Lost In You," which hasn't seen stage time since 2007.

Stewart truly remains "Forever Young" as he's still slaying it on tour each year, and the song lives on the road with him. It was last played on his current joint tour with Cyndi Lauper on June 29th in Las Vegas. Sir Rod Stewart will return to the road to play his hits in the Fall. Head to his website for more information.