I think the anarchist inside me is conditioned to ignore any announcement of honours, because until a press statement arrived from EMI I hadn't even noticed it was the Queen's official birthday last weekend, let alone that she had dished out some more of those birthday honours. Perhaps I just had a very busy weekend.
Anyhow, EMI were commenting on these things because EMI Group top guy Eric Nicoli was awarded a CBE for his services to the music industry - an award that he seemed keen to share with the rest of the EMI team (I haven't checked, but I don't think that honorable gesture means that everyone at EMI can now put CBE after their name, although I'm not sure what would happen if they did). Anyway, Eric said in a statement yesterday: "This is an honor which I share with all those at EMI who have worked so hard with me over the past seven years. I feel very fortunate to work in a dynamic industry with immensely talented people and I'll always try to play my part in supporting and developing it."
Other music names getting some letters from the Queen included Beverly Knight, who got an MBE, and Rolf Harris (he's kind of a music person) who got a CBE to add to his existing OBE and MBE. Does that mean he now has a complete set? Does he win a prize? Hell, why don't we just give him the British Empire? Tell you what, let's just give him Australia? That is still ours to give, yeah?