Thursday, December 29, 2022

How many rock stars have been knighted? (Updated December 2022)

The first rock stars to be honored by the Queen


In 1965 Beatles became the first rock stars to receive royal honors. They received MBEs in 1965. The first rock star to receive the highest honor of being knighted was Cliff Richard.   So how many British rock stars have actually been knighted.?  Eleven rock stars can rightfully be called Sir. Included among the 'Sir's' are Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Tom Jones   Sir Elton John, Sir Rod Stewart, Sir George Ivan Morrison (Van Morrison), Sir Ray Davies, Sir Richard Starkey, Sir Barry Gibb and now Sir Brian May. Being knighted is the highest honor, but many people (most years as many as a 1000 people) receive lesser honors each year, so a good number of famous rock and pop stars now have been honored by the realm.

Prince Charles knights Barry Gibb (AP)

As we stated above, the Beatles were given the lesser honor of MBEs in 1965, but   John Lennon and George Harrison had the misfortune of dying before anybody could get round to knighting them. Lennon famously gave back his MBE in 1969 with a note saying, “Your majesty, I am returning this MBE in protest against Britain’s involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against, "Cold Turkey" slipping down the charts. With love, John Lennon.”
 George Harrison was offered a promotion from MBE to CBE, but declined because, he would have preferred a knighthood (perhaps so he could be on par with Paul McCartney). Ringo Starr was only knighted in 2018.   Oddly enough, the late Sir George Martin, the Beatles producer was actually knighted before Ringo.
Jimmy Page was given an OBE for helping Brazilian children

Back to our story....
There is a Sir Mick Jagger, but no Sir Keith Richards.  Oddly, Bill Wyman has received honors but not Charlie Watt, Ronnie Wood or Mick Taylor.  Keith made fun of Jagger for accepting the knighthood.

What about Bono and Bob Geldof who are sometimes called "Sir"?  These men are   Irishman have received honorary knighthoods for their charity work. Bono was given his honor in 2007. 

Bob Geldof received his honor back in 1986. Geldof is entitled to use the post-nominal letters "KBE" but, as he is not a citizen of a Commonwealth realm, he is precluded from using the title "Sir". Regardless, the nickname "Sir Bob" has stuck, and media reports continue to refer to him as "Sir Bob Geldof".

Many   of the other notable figures of the British rock scene have been given lesser honors then the highest honor of knighthood.  The lesser honors are CBE's, LVO's, MBE's etc, but these folks were not given the honorific of "Sir". These lesser honors allow the recipients to put the type of honors they were given as initials  after their name, but no Sir or Dame before it.  

Among those who have received lesser honors are:

Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Dave Gilmour, (but not Roger Walters), Roger Taylor (but not John Deacon or Freddie Mercury), Roger Daltrey (but not Pete Townshend), Eric Clapton (CBE), the late Robin and Maurice Gibb, Albert Hammond, Peter Asher, the late Gerry Marsden, Joan Armatrading, Annie Lennox, Mark Knopfler, Graham Nash (OBE), Marty Wilde (MBE). Rod Stewart, Phil Collins (who is an LVO), Adele, Kate Bush (CBE), and Gordon "Sting" Sumner, Damon Albarn of Blur (OBE), Tim and Neil Finn, Justin Hayward (OBE) Jools Holland of Squeeze (OBE) -though Jools is more famous for his TV work. Folk rock legends Ashley MBE) and Richard Thompson of Fairport Convention, Maddy Prior MBE, Martin Carthy MBE, and Shirley Collins MBE.  Recently, Ed Sheeran received an MBE. Bernie Taupin was given honors on the 2022 list.

David Bowie actually declined honors, as have Paul Weller, and Hank Marvin of the Shadows. 

Who else hasn't been given honours?  Ozzy Osbourne, Jeff Beck, Elvis Costello, Robbie Williams, Keith Richard, Peter Gabriel, Pete Townshend, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Charlie Watts, Steve Winwood, Roger Waters, Peter Noone (of Herman's Hermits) and John Paul Jones are among the most noted rich stars who haven't been honored for services to the realm. As far as I know, no British punk star or new waver has been honored. Also, no American rock performers have received honors since they are not eligible for British honours.

Among the dead rock British rock stars who were never given honors are George Michael, Freddie Mercury Brian Jones, Keith Moon, Nick Drake, John Entwistle, John Bonham, and Sandy Denny.

What about Popular Music and Musical theater types?
Lionel Bart, Cameron McIntosh, Andrew Lloyd Webber (he's a Lord!)  and Tim Rice have been knighted. You can call them "Sir". Elaine Paige has been honored as well.


There have been female stars from the rock era who been honored.  In 2019, Olivia Newton-John was made a dame and given an OBE. The late Dusty Springfield was given an OBE, and as we noted above Joan Armatrading, Kate Bush, Pauline Black, Annie Lennox and   Adele have been given lesser honors than a Dame-ship. Two Spice Girls-Victoria Beckham and  Mel Brown have also been given honors.

Pop singers Shirley Bassey! and Julie Andrews were made Dames many years ago.

What about other countries honors?
Gordon Lightfoot, Paul Anka, and Joni Mitchell have received the Order of Canada.
Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder are among the many people who awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Reggae stars Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff have received the Jamaican order of merit.

Why are rock stars given honors?    Many reasons are given, certainly it's true that groups like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles all have done wonders for the British economy. Many of the people knighted have been artistically important.  Doing charity work helps too, but clearly being a wonderful person is not a requirement, or many rock stars would not have been honored. Also surprisingly, being a tax exile seems to have not kept stars from being honored.

Published December 2017, updated every year by J.C.Bernhardt.
Also at Felpin's Pond
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29 comments:

  1. Hi, I am currently petitioning to have Ozzy Osbourne Knighted. I had originally campaigned for all four original members of Black Sabbath to receive a knighthood but was informed by someone from the U.K Cabinet that it would be highly unlikely that the whole band would one and that I would have a greater chance of having the prominent member of the band nominated first.
    So, far I have managed to gather about 2,641 signatures, and hopefully I will have enough by the closing date of the petition, the 6th of July 2014,the 7th Anniversary of when Ozzy received his star on the "Birmingham Walk Of Stars"...(he was the first one chosen for the start of this famous landmark of Birmingham.)
    So, If I am successful with my petition, you could then add Ozzy Osbourne to your list of Rockers who have received a Knighthood. Cheers! :D \m/\m/

    http://www.causes.com/actions/1735312-ozzy-osbourne-for-a-knighthood

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  2. Replies
    1. He's not under any obligation. I am just doing all I can to make it happen, but in the end, it's really up to Ozzy whether he will accept it or not if I am successful with my campaign.
      Cheers and thank you for writing this awesome article and for replying to my comment Felpin. :D \m/\m/

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    2. gerry marston what a guy brilliant guy never lets you down smashin cause this land the place i love and here he stays

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    3. so is Joe Brown but he never got anything

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  3. Sir Paul McCartney was knighted by Queen Elizabeth 2 because of petitions so he could become Knighted. Ringo Starr was not Knighted because there is no petition for him. George Harrison was an American citizen...Late John Lennon was nearly an American in 1980 if he had not been shot.

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    1. George became a Swiss citizen, not an American citizen. This was after the insult of being offered a CBE. He didn't want inheritance taxes going to Her Majesty.

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    2. I can't verify if George obtained Swiss Citizenship, but I do know he owned a estate in Montagnola in his last years. George was living in the USA when he died, but like Pam says, it does not appear that he obtained American citizenship.

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  4. Only Two people of power is able and allow knight anyone of the UK is Queen Elizabeth 2 and Prince Charles...no one else is allowed to do this. I am not British ...I know this about I signed a petition for Christopher Lee to be knighted of Tulsa World Newspaper.

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  5. Sir Paul McCartney was knighted by Queen Elizabeth 2 of 1997 because of his time, and effort for Liverpool Academy of Arts to bring to modern today's look and dedicated to the late John Lennon.

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  6. Sir Paul McCartney was knighted and seen on various News program across the United States including CNN 1997.

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  7. Beatles were a member MBE...all of them must have this before they can become Knighted...this is for everyone or a huge petition to Queen Elizabeth 2 and to Prince Charles.

    No one can be Knighted illegally in the UK...it is automatically he or she is arrested.

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  8. All Countries view the Knight as Sir or Lady...they view them as an Ambassadors. They respect them by calling he or she Sir or Lady. This includes the United States of America...must call Paul McCartney-Sir.

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  9. He or she does not have to be member of royalty to be knighted by Queen Elizabeth 2 or by Prince Charles...they must have MBE...which stand for Member British Excellence or there is huge petition for anyone to be knighted..Queen Elizabeth 2 and Prince Charles are only two can decide who gets Knighted and who gets left out..They know Richard Starkey is not Knighted...it is unfair to Ringo Starr. It is unfair to Late John Lennon. It is unfair to Late George Harrison...No one can control Queen Elizabeth 2 and Prince Charles...who they Knight..who they don't Knight. Sir Paul McCartney can go up in Rank based on Queen Elizabeth 2 and Prince Charles 2..they could Knight Sir Paul McCartney to Lord Paul McCartney. It could be whimsical decision...just because he is there.

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  10. Thanks for your comments, Carol.

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  11. If you believe Tom Jones is solely about 'it's Not Unusual', then you need to get out more. As but a few of many recommendations, go review that tiny career you believe him to have had, look at his popularity and its longevity, look at his ability to diversify, and one more......have a glance at his generosity of self & overall personality and UK elder statesman, and at how beloved Tom is by so many of his musical peers regardless of their ages or genre of music. Finally......listen to those pipes. You have, (but only A Lot) seriously undervalued and underestimated Tom Jones - Period!

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    1. Yes, Lindsay I must have been trying to be funny when I wrote -

      "Tom Jones was knighted for "services to music". It's hard to see how "It's Not Unusual" is a service to music. Maybe they have to meet a quota of Welshmen."

      It comes off as harsh and yes he is great singer and entertainer. So I will delete it...

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  12. David Bowie is SO cool. He's not a Knight. He acknowledges this.
    Now, THAT is nobility!!!

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    1. Well David Bowie, was once a "Duke" of course, the "Thin White Duke".

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  13. Many of the other notable figures of the British rock scene have been given lesser honors. CBE's , LVO's , MBE's etc, but these folks were not given the honorific of "Sir". rock music news

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  14. Jools Holland is technically a punk/new wave musician.

    Some more that I can think of:
    Noddy Holder is an MBE.
    Damon Albarn was given an OBE last year.
    Rod Stewart is now a knight.
    Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull is an MBE.
    Ray Davies is a CBE.

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  15. The first British Pop Star to be knighted was Cliff Richard in 1995. Not the Beatles. Get the records straight.

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    1. The article states that Beatles were first British rock stars to be given honors (to be inducted into a order of chivalry ), sorry if this unclear. Thanks.

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  16. Only a fellow freak would accept an award from a freakshow surely? Savile, Epstein, Peter Ball anyone?

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  17. bowie turned it down! good for him! except for ray davies who wrote pro-english material, the rest don't deserve it. in fact, they all should have turned it down... they would have been the true rock and roll thing to do! "sir" mick jagger! makes me wanna puke ! they want to be the iconoclast AND the icon.

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  18. Rush received the Order of Canada in 1996 (as a group, not as individuals).

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