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A Rolling Stone gathers a knighthood

LONDON June 15. Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, the ageing rock `n' roll rebel renowned for his drug arrests and female conquests, finally got some satisfaction from Britain's establishment today when he was awarded a knighthood.

"Old Rubber Lips", a boyhood hero of the Prime Minister, Tony Blair's, won his knighthood "for services to popular music", according to the list of honours published to mark Queen Elizabeth's official birthday. "I was very pleased. I was also surprised because I must admit I wasn't expecting to get it," Jagger told Reuters Television.

"It is great to get an honour from your own country — although I have had honours from other countries. It also reflects really wonderfully on all the achievements of the Rolling Stones over the last 40 years."

Jagger joined nearly 1,000 people in the government-compiled honours list. Half of the great, good, famous and unknown recipients were nominated by members of the public.

Mr. Blair has put a premium on recognising unsung heroes such as teachers, police and community leaders, but the latest list also boasted the regular smattering of stars from sports and the arts, as well as politicians and business leaders. "He is one of the great rock stars of the 20th century," Mr. Blair's spokesman said of the pouting 1960s idol.

Jagger and the Rolling Stones are revered for hits like "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", "Brown Sugar", "Sympathy For The Devil" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash". But his knighthood, which was widely leaked in advance, has already attracted criticism.

Unlike some contemporaries, the 58-year-old Jagger has defied the urge to grow old gracefully or branch out into charity work, saving his energy for rock music and paternity suits. Jagger said the rest of the band was "really surprised" at news of his knighthood.

The Rolling Stone biographer, Philip Norman, said that to reward the unreconstructed hedonist was "a disgrace and travesty" and clear proof of Mr. Blair's "pathetic attempts to win popularity by schmoozing pop musicians and soap opera stars". "It's Sir Mick (and not for his services to women)", chortled The News of the World last Sunday.

Also winning knighthoods today were playwright Harold Pinter, who penned the brooding dramas "The Birthday Party" and "The Caretaker", and director Jonathan Miller whose recent Mafia version of Verdi's Rigoletto broke new ground for British opera.

Reuters

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