To be a true rock and roll musician is to stick it to the man, to resist authority and rebel.

Hendrix, Morrison, Moon, Page, Plant, Cobain, Lemmy, Joplin, Jett, the list goes on; but across the board it’s a general disdain towards all forms of authority that propels rock musicians to the top of their game.

We’ll push Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney and Elton John aside for a second – each to their own with knighthoods I guess – and look at why David Bowie never received one. Simple really, he didn’t want it. Here’s the Mirror:

The Ziggy Stardust singer was offered a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2000, which the Queen awards to those who have made “a distinguished, innovative contribution to any area” of British life.

While most would be flattered with the gesture, he refused it, explaining at the time: “I seriously don’t know what it’s for.”

Then in 2003 he rejected a knighthood in recognition of “having a major contribution” to British life which was “inspirational and significant… over a long period of time”…

Bowie again declined, saying: “I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that. It’s not what I spent my life working for.”

Take that you fuddy-duddy old tax burden known as the Queen, Bowie doesn’t need recognition from you and your cronies.

[source:mirror]