Being knighted by the British Empire is one of the greatest honours anyone can ever hope to earn. It’s a tradition that goes back centuries. Now the question: Who was the first rocker to become a “Sir?”
That would be Bob Geldof in 1986 for all his work with Band Aid and Live Aid. However, because he’s Irish and not British, his knighthood is technically an honorary one. That makes 60s and 70s British singer Cliff Richard the first rocker bonked with a sword when he was selected in 1995.
Since then, knighthoods have gone to Paul McCartney, Elton John, Mick Jagger, Roger Daltrey, and Brian May have all been given the title “Sir.”
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