[Slowhand] Eric Clapton - OBE

[Artaarias at aol.com]

Eric Clapton can now put the letters OBE after his name.

LONDON, England (AP) -- Could Queen Elizabeth II be a rock 'n roll fan?

Legendary guitarist Eric Clapton and Kinks founder Ray Davies received
royal honors Wednesday, becoming Commanders of the Order of the British
Empire just weeks after Rolling Stone Mick Jagger picked up his
knighthood at Buckingham Palace.

Also among the luminaries singled out for awards in the annual New
Year's Honors list were World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, who
became a knight, and tennis star Tim Henman, made an Officer of the
Order of the British Empire, or OBE.

A total of 981 people received honors including 37 players and coaches
from England's national rugby team, which won this year's Rugby World
Cup.

This year's honors have been the subject of more than the usual amount
of debate.

Responding to criticism that the selection process was too secretive
and tainted by politics and public relations, the government announced
it would review the system to make it more open and independent.

One leaked document said Henman, a four-time Wimbledon semifinalist
whose failure to win the tournament has bitterly disappointed Britons,
was being recommended for an OBE to "add interest" to the list.

A prominent scientist, Colin Blakemore, complained publicly about
reports that he was denied a knighthood because he is a vocal proponent
of research on animals. He did not get an award.

Though the honors are bestowed by the queen, she chooses only a few.
Most recipients are selected by committees of civil servants from
nominations made by the government and the public.

But Britons are divided over the importance of the awards -- Keith
Richards criticized his bandmate Jagger for accepting the knighthood,
saying he should not have associated himself with such a symbol of the
establishment.

And The Sunday Times published a list of 300 well-known people --
including singer David Bowie, comedian John Cleese and actors Albert
Finney and Kenneth Branagh -- who had declined honors since 1945.

Clapton, 58, a member of the 1960s R&B band the Yardbirds and a founder
of the rock trio Cream, has won more than 15 Grammy awards and gained
greatest renown for his solo career, with songs like "Layla," "After
Midnight" and "Tears in Heaven."

Davies, 59, founded the Kinks with his brother Dave. Their hard-edged,
guitar-driven music drew a huge following in the '60s and beyond with
hits like "You Really Got Me," "All Day and All of the Night" and
"Lola."