if I cared about geldof or bono I would be extremely disappointed with them
― the world is your octopus (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Thursday, 4 May 2023 17:52 (one year ago) link
I'm quite shocked Van Morrison was even offered one. Then again, consider who some of the other Knights of the Realm are.
― hellboy falling through the bar (Matt #2), Thursday, 4 May 2023 17:56 (one year ago) link
Geldof - Bob wtf are you doing? again?Cliff - Obvious he would accept oneGeorge Martin - Old posh bloke, again v much in characterPaul - Yeah this is a bit disappointing, didn't he return his CBE?Elton - Moral principles seem to vary a great deal with EltonMick - Bit of a right-wing prick by all accountsTom Jones - Doesn't seem to be involved in politicsBono - Ridiculous hypocrisy, wouldn't be a firstRod - Yeah maybe would have expected a bit better from Rod, or maybe notVan - I would expect no better from VanRay Davies - Cruel streak fits the role nicelyRingo - Our lad from The Dingle done good, of course he'd take it and why not?Barry Gibb - Pretty apolitical and very proud of himself, so seems in characterBrian May - One of those eco-tories, probably best mates with CharlesSo guess it's Paul.
― the world is your octopus (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Thursday, 4 May 2023 18:08 (one year ago) link
Ray Davies wrote the album Arthur - as devastating a treatise on the English establishment as any mainstream band has produced - and later took a knighthood. That's the answer
― imago, Thursday, 4 May 2023 19:14 (one year ago) link
needs "all of the above" option, but yeah ray davies.
― my beard exists more than i do. (Austin), Thursday, 4 May 2023 19:21 (one year ago) link
not really relevant to the thread question but george martin's background was arguably less posh than any beatle except maybe ringo -- his accent and demeanour were more an adaptation in the navy during the war than something that came from family (which was catholic and working class artisanal)
― mark s, Thursday, 4 May 2023 19:23 (one year ago) link
i guess maybe "he was in the navy during the war" is relevant to the thread question
― mark s, Thursday, 4 May 2023 19:24 (one year ago) link
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/elvis-costello-queens-birthday-honours_uk_5cfb8119e4b0aab91c069ebe
― PaulTMA, Thursday, 4 May 2023 19:26 (one year ago) link
― imago
tbf he also wrote one of the most famous songs making fun of trans people ever, i'd say he's well earned the plaudits of the british establishment
mostly i'm just disappointed that the american government doesn't give out, like, honorary postmasterships or something. come on! where's iggy pop's honorary postmaster status?
― Kate (rushomancy), Thursday, 4 May 2023 19:28 (one year ago) link
Voted Tom Jones, since he's the only one on the list I've ever spoken to and he was a really nice guy and a blast to interview. Also, his 21st century albums (Praise & Blame, Spirit in the Room, Long Lost Suitcase and Surrounded By Time) are the best of anybody on the list by a fucking huge margin.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Thursday, 4 May 2023 20:09 (one year ago) link
Saw a list of "five famous musicians who turned down the OBE" or whatever, included Bowie, Harrison, Eno, Keef and Lydon. Is that accurate?
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 4 May 2023 20:28 (one year ago) link
disappointment is not really the apposite emotion for this douchebag parade
― contrapuntal aversion (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 4 May 2023 21:23 (one year ago) link
Van Morrison
― Cthulhu Diamond Phillips (Neanderthal), Thursday, 4 May 2023 23:01 (one year ago) link
only in that he's a fuckhole who shouldn't be offered any award of any type other than a turd in a Lunchables box
― Cthulhu Diamond Phillips (Neanderthal), Thursday, 4 May 2023 23:02 (one year ago) link
Ray Davies is my favourite of these people (apart from Barry Gibb) but I'm not in the least surprised that he would accept a knighthood, it seems very much in character to me so I'm not disappointed. Barry's a conventional old soul, so ditto. Any Irishman who accepts the honour of Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire wants shot, did James Connolly get shot in vain... and in a chair? Van Morrison obviously doesn't count in that respect. I was probably more upset by John Cale accepting an OBE than any of these tbh.
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Thursday, 4 May 2023 23:13 (one year ago) link
The Kennedy Center Honor (given by what was formerly the National Cultural Center until John F. Kennedy's assassination) is probably the highest honor given to artists here. Gershwin and Mark Twain prizes are probably up there as well (the former for song composers, the latter for comedians).
― birdistheword, Thursday, 4 May 2023 23:14 (one year ago) link
Less famous musicians accepting baubles is more understandable I think - someone like Marc Almond is probably not that well off (given that his biggest hit was a cover), and he's probably gone through life thinking his career could be over at any given moment, so why not take whatever recognition is given to you. But why on earth the Mick Jaggers of this world need to brown-nose the Establishment is beyond me.
― Zelda Zonk, Thursday, 4 May 2023 23:30 (one year ago) link
They are the establishment.
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Thursday, 4 May 2023 23:40 (one year ago) link
I guess so!
― Zelda Zonk, Thursday, 4 May 2023 23:51 (one year ago) link
Maybe I'm an idealist, but I'll choose Ray Davies. I'm like the lovers he writes about in one of his memoirs, who complain that he isn't like the characters in his songs; he tells them, "songs aren't real life".
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 8 May 2023 01:00 (one year ago) link
Mick - Bit of a right-wing prick by all accounts
Prick, yes. Not right wing.
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 8 May 2023 01:06 (one year ago) link
fwiw
Rock legend Mick Jagger has made a rare entry into the war that is modern politics by attacking US President Donald Trump for his rudeness, lies and for "tearing apart" environment controls in America.
The Rolling Stones singer said he was "absolutely behind" young climate change activists who had earlier occupied the red carpet at the Venice film festival, where he was starring in the psychological thriller, The Burnt Orange Heresy.
Jagger said he deplored how politics has descended into name-calling, "including in my own country this week" - a reference to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson comparing opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to a "big girl's blouse" and a "chlorinated chicken".
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 8 May 2023 01:07 (one year ago) link
To bring it full circle, here’s a Prince Charles sketch from an SNL episode that featured Mick as the musical guest (though sadly he doesn’t appear in this):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwrzj_oMZ7c
― birdistheword, Monday, 8 May 2023 04:33 (one year ago) link
I was wrong - he DOES appear in it
― birdistheword, Monday, 8 May 2023 04:35 (one year ago) link
Oh please, he's been a Tory for years. You can be right wing and dislike Trump... and Boris Johnson btw... support the right of climate activists to protest etc etc.
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Monday, 8 May 2023 08:42 (one year ago) link
To be fair, standards are very different in the UK. In the US, if you supported efforts to stop climate change and actively opposed Trump, the GOP would brand you a RINO. But as others have pointed out, U.S. Democrats are broadly equivalent to mainstream conservative parties in Europe. (In terms of actual policy, even Cameron was in a lot of ways to the left of Obama.)
― birdistheword, Monday, 8 May 2023 08:58 (one year ago) link
Agreed, he's a Tory prick.
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Monday, 8 May 2023 09:00 (one year ago) link
Fair!
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 8 May 2023 09:21 (one year ago) link
he's an English multimillionaire with a mansion in Richmond who doesn't like paying taxes, there isn't way to cut that says he isn't a Tory cunt!
― calzino, Monday, 8 May 2023 09:33 (one year ago) link
A good litmus test for finding out if someone's a tory is just googling their name + margaret thatcher, to wit:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/shortcuts/2013/jun/12/mick-jagger-admiration-margaret-thatcher
Sadly this method also proves Ilhan Omar is a tory, sorry but rules are rules.
― Daniel_Rf, Monday, 8 May 2023 10:13 (one year ago) link
A better litmus test: he can't understand why anyone loathed Thatcher.
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 8 May 2023 10:17 (one year ago) link
A better test for Jagger is to grit your teeth and try to make it thru his Top of the Pops performance of Let's Work
― contrapuntal aversion (Noodle Vague), Monday, 8 May 2023 11:39 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlXnJgJJzck
― contrapuntal aversion (Noodle Vague), Monday, 8 May 2023 11:40 (one year ago) link
You're sitting down on your buttAnd you get greedyYou start to lose your nutsDon't you look seedy?Can generosityBring you humility?
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 8 May 2023 11:44 (one year ago) link
Co-written by Norman Tebbit.
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Monday, 8 May 2023 11:47 (one year ago) link
Can’t be long before Bryan Ferry is knighted.
― Dan Worsley, Monday, 8 May 2023 11:49 (one year ago) link
when your musical persona is that of a decadent world weary playboy I don't think anyone gets to be too disappointed you're not a comrade irl I think
― Daniel_Rf, Monday, 8 May 2023 11:52 (one year ago) link
his stint the new left's rocker of choice circa 68-69 is so funny/sad/baffling to think about now but I assume he never really believed in anything except mick jagger
― your original display name is still visible (Left), Monday, 8 May 2023 11:56 (one year ago) link
he did explicitly position himself as a comrade for like a minute and it was good for his brand until it wasn't. not that it wasn't incredibly naive to believe him
― your original display name is still visible (Left), Monday, 8 May 2023 12:01 (one year ago) link
Craig Brown's book One On One includes an account of Tom Driberg's attempts in the late 60s to convince Jagger to either become a Labour MP, or later to set up a new party with him.
― he thinks it's chinese money (soref), Monday, 8 May 2023 12:17 (one year ago) link
Left, Bryan Ferry did? When?
― Daniel_Rf, Monday, 8 May 2023 12:38 (one year ago) link
No, Jagger.
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Monday, 8 May 2023 12:40 (one year ago) link
Ah ok. I guess my description could work for Jagger too but I meant Ferry.
― Daniel_Rf, Monday, 8 May 2023 12:41 (one year ago) link
Jagger was at Grosvenor Square in '68, wrote "Street Fighting Man" for Tariq Ali etc.
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Monday, 8 May 2023 12:45 (one year ago) link
One the earliest exponents of radical chic I'd say.
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Monday, 8 May 2023 12:46 (one year ago) link
Didn't Mick singlehandedly free Angela Davis with that song about her?
― Josefa, Monday, 8 May 2023 13:57 (one year ago) link
Misread the thread question and voted Geldof because I dislike him the most. Now that I've actually looked at the question, I don't think I'm disappointed by anyone on this list because I'm not surprised by any of them. I mean, even Jagger's rock-star persona may be superficially anti-establishment but has always had a strong element of "kid who did all the work on the group project and wants the teacher to know." He's not someone I'd expect to turn down honors of any kind.
― Lily Dale, Monday, 8 May 2023 14:33 (one year ago) link
Didn't the queen refuse to be around to do the honours (literally) for Mick?
Anyway, don't care about knighthoods, so not disappointed in any. If John Rot had been offered and accepted, I still would not care. Beyond, of course, the indignant sending theirs back because they felt undervalued now. Good.
― Mark G, Monday, 8 May 2023 15:48 (one year ago) link
sorry I thought you meant jagger but it works for either xps
I don't know think anyone could reasonably expect better enough of any of these people to justify being disappointed with them on this issue
― your original display name is still visible (Left), Monday, 8 May 2023 16:02 (one year ago) link
def mick for me
― Toshirō Nofune (The Seventh ILXorai), Monday, 8 May 2023 16:05 (one year ago) link
I have cherished Jagger's delivery of his line in that SNL sketch forever, it's amazing. Geldof gets my vote, he's from Dublin, how could he.
― J Edgar Noothgrush (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Monday, 8 May 2023 16:37 (one year ago) link
tb(somewhat)f to Geldof he's lived in the UK for decades and has been married and raised families here, what's Bono's excuse?
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Monday, 8 May 2023 16:41 (one year ago) link
Apparently there's also Sir Karl Jenkins of Nucleus/Soft Machine, presumably nominated for subsequent classical-type composing stuff. Meanwhile Mike Ratledge goes unacknowledged.
― Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 10 May 2023 14:10 (one year ago) link
SORRY THE WEIRD GUY AT THE CORONATION WAS KARL JENKINS?!?!? AND HE IS NOW A KNIGHT OF THE REALM?!?!?!
― the world is your octopus (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Wednesday, 10 May 2023 16:41 (one year ago) link
i: meghan markle was in soft machine ii: sir karl william *PAMP* jenkins cbe, fram, honFLSW
― mark s, Wednesday, 10 May 2023 16:55 (one year ago) link
it does make a lot of sense that the man responsible for this terrible album would be at the coronationhttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/29/LandCockayne.jpg
― the world is your octopus (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Wednesday, 10 May 2023 17:21 (one year ago) link
I'm surprised Clapton hasn't been knighted - it's not like he can do worse at this point.
― birdistheword, Wednesday, 10 May 2023 19:40 (one year ago) link
Townshend doesn't even have an OBE - I mean, Jimmy Page has one so it can't purely be down to a debauched rock and roll lifestyle. There is the little matter of Townshend research materials though.
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Wednesday, 10 May 2023 20:07 (one year ago) link
Gilmour has a CBE, Waters has nothing - I assume they know better than to ask him.
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Wednesday, 10 May 2023 20:08 (one year ago) link
Ian Anderson has an MBE, Jon Anderson has nothing.
Phil Collins has something called an LVO, Peter Gabriel has nothing.
... this could go on all night.
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Wednesday, 10 May 2023 20:12 (one year ago) link
[There is the little matter of Townshend research materials though
yeah the royal family would want to avoid any associations with pedophilia
― contrapuntal aversion (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 10 May 2023 20:42 (one year ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Thursday, 11 May 2023 00:01 (one year ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Friday, 12 May 2023 00:01 (eleven months ago) link
Lest we forget...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Fletcher
Fletcher was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2014 New Years Honours list for services to competition and consumer economics and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to the economy.[9]
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Friday, 19 May 2023 10:01 (eleven months ago) link
wouldve been a K but the committee relistened to hefner's we love the city and said no
― mark s, Friday, 19 May 2023 10:08 (eleven months ago) link
Amelia Fletcher CBTwee
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Friday, 19 May 2023 10:18 (eleven months ago) link
Think if you're a senior civil servant those just come with the job, would be interested to ask her about it though.
― the world is your octopus (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Friday, 19 May 2023 10:19 (eleven months ago) link