Sir Neil Tennant

[Janet Street-Porter]

I never really *got* the Stones until I saw Gimme Shelter.

[Syncratic]

First off, I rather like Queen, She is very popular here in the States. Every time she comes around the politicians in DC fall over each other trying to get within a few miles of her. She was here this year and everywhere she went tens of thousands came out to see her.


As for the boys getting a medal from the British Head of State, why not. They are after all British and in my opinion some of the best British musicians of the last century!! They should be recognised for all the beautiful music they have made.

But they are already recognised by the millions of people who have bought their records. An endorsement by an old woman who has never even heard of them doesn't really hold much validity anymore.

So what if some ass-kissing politicians fall over themsleves when she's in DC, they pretty much do the same here out of politeness but make no mistake a large majority of the public feel that she is outdated, largely irrelevant and redudant. And the apologists who feel that she brings in tourism are quite mistaken as Britain has always had a rich history and that won't change.

Many people come out to see her in London but most of them tend to be ignorant tourists, curious types who love anything remotely famous, the press and 80% old people. Beoming a 'Sir' means nothing. And it doesn't even sound good, and the boys would probably refuse it considering that they've always loathed the monarchy. You don't have to support the Royal Familiy to be patriotic as the US clearly has shown, even though patriotism is really a rather daft and extremely loose concept anyway.

If you want her you can have her. But anyway, it's a rather redundant thread, like Disco4.

[Pet Shop Girl]

It´d be nice to see Neil and Chris knighted. But it´s just impossible.
Btw, talking about Jagger. Rolling Stones were performing here a couple of days ago.

Yeah it would be nice, but that is not their bag.

[MD]

DazzerUKUK wrote

Queen are a rock band............ I assume you are referring to The Queen? It's a bit like Pet Shop Boys and The Pet Shop Boys. One is popular pop electronic pop duo, the other are pop royalty.





A rock band called "Queen"? How very "Bohemian" of me not to have known

The typo is duly noted and corrected

[DJ Pat]

If The Cure ever pick up the contribution to Brit Music award before PSB or Depeche Mode, I'll jump off a cliff.

[No Muscle Mary]

With everything else they've changed their minds about, I wouldn't be that surprised..

I sincerely hope not, though.

I agree with Joemoz. They're always going back on what they said a few years ago. I bet they would accept it. And after seeing some of the people who were picked for this honour recently, I don't see why they wouldn't be offered.

Bono and Bob Geldof accepted and they're not even British! That was a bit controversial over here in Ireland.

There are quite a few Irish awardees. Terry Wogan, Terry Leahy (Chairman of Tesco), the err MD of BT. I think Terry Wogan may actually have the right to British citizenship - or is a British citizen - because he was born before 1948 when 26 counties of of Ireland became fully independent.

Terry Wogan became British the day he slagged off his own country to a British TV audience by saying we were hosting the Eurovision Song Contest "in a cow shed".

As for knighthood, it's a pity the Questions section is shut down on the offical site, it would be a good one to ask Neil.

[Deschanel]

Lol. As if he'd answer it honestly. I think Neil in his heart of hearts would be quite flattered and tempted by the honor.

"Sir Neil Tennant" would never again be mocked as an 80's pop star. he would command respect, wherever he went, in the US as well as the UK. That might mean quite a lot to him.

It would be difficult, considering past statements,- it was quite fashionable in the 70's to declare one's republican sympathies in England, and expect quite a lot that never came to pass. In the 80's it made for delightfully cheeky soundbites, quotable and irreverent and just the outsider attitude PSB wanted to project.

But times change, and Neil cannot be immune to the the immense status a knighthood would confer. Anyone saying "it doesn't mean anything" is dreaming, it still counts for a lot, especially for a Briton of Neil's age. I don't know if Neil's parents are still alive, but for a son to tell them he's been offered a knighthood- if only for that, to thrill his parents, I would never hold it against him if he accepted it.

When it comes to rock stars getting them, knighthoods represent awards for contributions to the UK economy- selling lots of records- more than artistic merit. The recent scandals about shady businessmen getting honours highlights this.

Honours aren't technically royal- it's the British gov't. bestowing them. It's not like the Queen personally selects the fifty boring businessman a year it's her duty to give them to.

Times change, and I think Neil deserves a knighthood- he can be quiet about it and underplay it, but he should accept it. Chris, who i honestly believe deserves it less than Neil, can make a big show of rejecting it, and it will give the papers something to write about.

Neil deserves it as much as the next rock star , even more. He should accept it and be proud of his accomplishments, and for those of you who say it doesn't matter, enjoy the thousands of perks and deference he'd be paid. And i'm just talking about in Hollywood. It does matter. Not astronomically, but in the UK and the US, being Sir Neil Tennant would mean Neil is no longer "some faded 80's pop star."

No one could mock him anymore for the crime of being associated with the 80's.
Sir Neil Tennant would command a degree of respect wherever he went.
Think about that.

[Radiophonic]

I don't think Chris would get a Knighthood and I think IF it happend ,and IF Neil accepted it, it would be to do with other than his work with the PSB.

[Deschanel]

I don't think Chris would get a Knighthood and I think IF it happend ,and IF Neil accepted it, it would be to do with other than his work with the PSB.

I see what you mean, PSB might be esteemed more for their work for others. Hence, Disco 4.

How dismal, really.

He should still grab the knighthood without apologies though. Dear God, Andrew Lloyd Weber managed to grab a LORDSHIP from his trite crap musicals!!

[Radiophonic]

I don't think Chris would get a Knighthood and I think IF it happend ,and IF Neil accepted it, it would be to do with other than his work with the PSB.

I see what you mean, PSB might be esteemed more for their work for others. Hence, Disco 4.

Ha! Not quite.