Biography

Following the 9/11 attacks, he issued a statement "expressing his horror at the attacks on the innocent people of the United States". He also stated that "no right thinking Muslim would ever condone such Acts".

On a flight from London on September 21, 2004, he was refused entry to the United States on national security grounds. The flight had already taken off before his name was spotted as being on the American "watch list". The plane was diverted to Bangor, Maine, where he was taken off and returned to London.

Wrote "Sweet Scarlet" for love interest Carly Simon and she wrote "Anticipation" for him.

Decided to pursue religion after nearly drowning off the coast of Malibu, California. He converted to Islam after his brother took a trip to Jerusalem.

Family: Is of Greek Cypriot heritage - his father is Greek, mother is Swedish. Has four daughters and one son.

[on his induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame] Considering that the judges have actually voted for someone who doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, doesn't throw televisions out of hotel rooms and only sleeps with his wife, I'd say it was a very brave decision. And one which was unexpected, and strangely, outrageously rock & roll.

Considering the fact that I have been in the spotlight more or less since I was 18, there is an aspect of normality to my public profile, which I have grown to live with. As much as I would like to disappear into the crowd, my work won't let me - difficult as it is for my family.

I became very famous, as a teenager, and my name and photo were splashed in all the media. They made me larger than life, so I wanted to live larger than life, and the only way to do that was to be intoxicated.

One song I do is "The First Cut is the Deepest." I try to remind people I wrote that song, not Rod Stewart.

I thought everybody would embrace and understand my reasons for becoming Muslim.