Barking Spiders Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 With 'Sir' Paul McCartney obviously being in the limelight of late, what do the BC massive think of musicians of any ilk and other entertainers getting gongs for their 'services to music' etc. My take is they're hugely rich and successful people doing their dream jobs and surely that's enough. I'm 100% against titles in principle but accept that some entertainers may get one for setting up and running successful and worthy charidees or devoting themselves to worthwhile causes . And Ringo Starr is a Knight Bachelor but I dunno why. Jagger got knighted for 'services to music', which are I ask? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nail Soup Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 It's difficult to see what the point of these awards are really. The only valid reason for me is if they recognise people who are not being otherwise recognised for their good work. Musicians are obviously recognised already - so why the gong? On the other hand, who are one of the most unrecognised and unappreciated groups? Bass players. Paul is a bassist. Ergo gong deserved. QED. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Take someone like Yolanda Charles who has an MBE for services to music. Not a household name and hardly in the same category as Paul McCartney or Mick Jagger for earnings, but an amazing teacher and has earned a few Bob on sessions and tours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Reminds me of a Robert Heinlein quote about the USA: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 4 minutes ago, BassBunny said: Take someone like Yolanda Charles who has an MBE for services to music. Not a household name and hardly in the same category as Paul McCartney or Mick Jagger for earnings, but an amazing teacher and has earned a few Bob on sessions and tours. But this is the point, 'services to music'. Surely everyone making music and performing is providing services to music? Why don't all the pros here get an MBE by that token? Music is one of life's enjoyable luxuries and the success of its famous and successful exponents is rewarded by vast wealth. It's sort of on a par with companies giving high value cars and other stuff to very rich and successful sportsmen etc i.e. giving more and more to those who already have lots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 As always, it's about the money. It started with Harold Wilson (if you're under 50 I should prolly explain that he was once quite famous) giving MBEs to The Beatles: "All four Beatles were made Members Of The British Empire in 1965 for services to British industry. The Fab Four had brought millions into the British economy - but some commentators cynically suggested that the move was more of a PR stunt by the then-current Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson to earn favour with younger voters." Wilson was the first politician to realise that pop music was part of Britain's 'invisible exports' which were crucial in keeping the economy afloat. Lots of things have changed since 1965, but the production, performance and - above all - sale of pop music (and videos and computer games etc.) make an absolute fortune for the country, year after year. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 14 minutes ago, Happy Jack said: Lots of things have changed since 1965, but the production, performance and - above all - sale of pop music (and videos and computer games etc.) make an absolute fortune for the country and themselves, year after year. Hmm so were The Beatles, Stones, Who , LZep etc blah, yadda formed with the intention of improving the UK economy's balance of payments? Will need to check out how much dosh music and entertainment actually puts in the Treasury coffers. Out of interest, when UK bands gig overseas, where do taxes on their incomes go to? The UK Treasury because that's where their business is domiciled (assuming it's not St Nevis, Jersey etc) or the countries where they're generating revenues? Besides, being a 'sir' or 'dame' in rock isn't very ..erm 'rock n'roll'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 2 minutes ago, Barking Spiders said: *** Out of interest, when UK bands gig overseas, where do taxes on their incomes go to? The UK Treasury because that's where their business is domiciled (assuming it's not St Nevis, Jersey etc) or the countries where they're generating revenues? *** In his book, Guy Pratt mentions how Pink Floyd would arrange their tours so they would be tax exiles for the duration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Well of course The Beatles were formed purely with the intention of improving the British economy. Lennon in particular was known for his espousal of then-radical monetarist policies dependent on control of the money supply to eradicate inflation, and would often lecture Harrison and Starr backstage before gigs about the importance of keeping the Bank Of England under the control of central government. Next question, please ... 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 From what I understand Malcolm McLaren invented The Beatles…………… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 6 minutes ago, Happy Jack said: Well of course The Beatles were formed purely with the intention of improving the British economy. Lennon in particular was known for his espousal of then-radical monetarist policies dependent on control of the money supply to eradicate inflation, and would often lecture Harrison and Starr backstage before gigs about the importance of keeping the Bank Of England under the control of central government. Next question, please ... And this is the real reason Pete Best was fired, as he disagreed with Lennon and favoured a Keynsian approach in which aggregate demand strongly influences economic output and inflation. 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 54 minutes ago, MacDaddy said: And this is the real reason Pete Best was fired, as he disagreed with Lennon and favoured a Keynsian approach in which aggregate demand strongly influences economic output and inflation. Money, that's what I want (OK, they did not write it)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nail Soup Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 7 hours ago, Happy Jack said: Well of course The Beatles were formed purely with the intention of improving the British economy. Lennon in particular was known for his espousal of then-radical monetarist policies dependent on control of the money supply to eradicate inflation, and would often lecture Harrison and Starr backstage before gigs about the importance of keeping the Bank Of England under the control of central government. Next question, please ... And they did expound their views on the upper tax band in the song Taxman of course. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 A band I was in, back in the 90's, one gig we had a mate do a gong solo during the set. It didn't go over well. It didn't go over well at all. The public don't really respect the place of the gong in music, I reckon. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piers_Williamson Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Well I think Duke Ellington’s title was well deserved 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nail Soup Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 26 minutes ago, Piers_Williamson said: Well I think Duke Ellington’s title was well deserved Ditto Sir Mix-a-Lot. Presumably for his services to, well, you know...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Prince. The real one I mean, not the sweaty nonce one. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted July 1, 2022 Share Posted July 1, 2022 13 hours ago, Piers_Williamson said: Well I think Duke Ellington’s title was well deserved Yep. Count Basie's too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted July 1, 2022 Share Posted July 1, 2022 40 minutes ago, Dan Dare said: Yep. Count Basie's too. And Screaming Lord Such's. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Horse Murphy Posted July 1, 2022 Share Posted July 1, 2022 It's been going on for several hundred years so it's not a particularly new phenomenon, unless you're a tortoise I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted July 4, 2022 Share Posted July 4, 2022 On 30/06/2022 at 08:44, Barking Spiders said: some entertainers may get one for setting up and running successful and worthy charidees I think you'll find that they need to do an awful lot more than just set up and run a worthwhile charity to be considered for a knighthood. His list of charity endeavours and support is very long. Ranging from Land mines to Animal Cruelty... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted July 4, 2022 Author Share Posted July 4, 2022 20 minutes ago, TimR said: I think you'll find that they need to do an awful lot more than just set up and run a worthwhile charity to be considered for a knighthood. His list of charity endeavours and support is very long. Ranging from Land mines to Animal Cruelty... But WTF are Ringo and Jagger 'sirs', particularly for the simian faced Jagger whose fave charity has always been himself. Never let it be forgotten he moved to France to avoid UK taxes so he's not even been that bothered about supporting the UK economy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted July 4, 2022 Share Posted July 4, 2022 (edited) Just because they're not in the news everyday doesn't mean they're not doing anything. They don't give out Kinighthoods for just being famous. There's a long list of criteria and a process. https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/mick-jagger Edited July 4, 2022 by TimR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted July 4, 2022 Author Share Posted July 4, 2022 1 hour ago, TimR said: Just because they're not in the news everyday doesn't mean they're not doing anything. They don't give out Kinighthoods for just being famous. There's a long list of criteria and a process. https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/mick-jagger OK a sleb may support such and such a charity but that's very different from founding and funding one e.g. Elton John's AIDS Foundation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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