Francis Rossi has been walking and swimming to get in shape for the upcoming Status Quo tour, which starts with its first date in Northern Ireland on May 28 this month. He likened himself to the energetic Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, who, at 80, puts on physically demanding shows similar to those of Status Quo.

Feeling his age, Francis Rossi, aged 74, is taking steps to match Mick Jagger's stage fitness.

The "Rocking All Over The World" singer has been walking and swimming to prepare for the band's upcoming tour. He drew comparisons with the energetic Rolling Stones frontman Mick, who at 80, puts on physically demanding shows similar to those of Status Quo.

Francis explained: “I’ve been working out a lot and swimming a lot to get fit for the tour. I think it’s just myself and Mick Jagger who do that sort of thing, but you do. I do workout exercises. I swim 40 lengths in the pool, I’ve been walking and so on.

“Because one thing with Status Quo is it’s physically demanding. And it seems weird about music, doesn’t it? How can we say it’s music and yet it’s physically demanding? Well, it's true. And it's painful. I'm trying to be fit and ready for it. I don’t take it lightly. I don’t just think, ‘Oh dear, we’re going on tour, who cares?’

“It means a lot to me, to all of us, to be in good condition so the audience get the best we can give them. I’m not going to tell them it’s going to be the most fantastic night they’ve ever had, because I’d hope when they had a great night it was better. But we really do try hard. It's not taken lightly, as the decision to come out and do it wasn’t taken lightly.”

Francis will be 75 when the rockers hit the road in June and admits he is starting to feel his age, especially in the mornings. He told German Radio station Rock Antenne: “I think every morning, 75! I mean, you get to 40 and 50, you think, yeah, and you can adjust to it, but 75 – it’s kind of a bit too real. In the morning, I definitely feel like 75.

“I’m very much aware of age. Yeah. And they keep saying age is just a number, everything’s just a number! It’s kind of, yeah, until you are 75. In the morning, I sit on the bed, I go, ‘Oh, it’s more than a number. Ouch.’ And then I get down the stairs and it’s OK. In the evening the last thing I do is I practice in my bedroom.

“And then I sit and play Patience on my iPad. And then I look forward to the following day. Every time. Although I’m aware that I don’t know if I’m going to get ill. I don’t know if I’m going to drop dead. People say it’s kind of morbid, but it’s actually funny that I’m in this business at 75. But it’s real, you know. I’m old. Don’t pretend you don’t feel old. It’s not true.”