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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Jimmy Page was given an OBE for helping Brazilian children |
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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.
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
Can you write hit song after age 50?
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
Can you write hit song after age 50?
