King Knights Queen, Arise Sir Brian May - Noise11.com
Brian May of Queen performs at Rod Laver Arena on Friday 2 March 2018. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

Brian May of Queen 2018. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

King Knights Queen, Arise Sir Brian May

by Paul Cashmere on December 31, 2022

in News

Queen guitarist Brian May has been knighted by King Charles III and is now Sir Brian May.

May was a co-founder of the band Smile in 1968, later to become Queen in 1970 when Freddie Mercury joined the group.

Queen released their self-titled debut album in 1973 and second and third albums ‘Queen II’ and ‘Sheer Heart Attack’ the following year, starting a succession of global hits with ‘Killer Queen’ and achieving their first number one ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in 1975.

Brian May was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005 and earned his PhD in Astrophysics in 2007. Dr Brian May was Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University from 2008 to 2013 and a collaborator with NASA for the New Horizons Pluto mission. He even has an asteroid named after him. 52665 brianmay was dedicated in 1998.

Previously knighted musicians include include Tom Jones, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Ray Davies, Cliff Richards, Shirley Bassey, Rod Stewart, Van Morrison and Beatles producer George Martin.

Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here

Be the first to see NOISE.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11.com

Follow Noise11 on Social Media

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Related Posts

Neil Young photo by Ros O'Gorman
Neil Young Withdraws from Facebook

On August 15, 2025, Neil Young officially severed his official Facebook presence. The move was a direct response to revelations that Meta’s AI chatbots were permitted to engage in “romantic or sensual” conversations with minors.

14 hours ago
John Lennon Power To The People
John Lennon ‘Power To The People’ Box Focuses On John and Yoko in New York City

John Lennon’s next box set is ‘Power To The People’, a 9CD/3 Blu-Ray disc set featuring a remixed version of the 1972 double album ‘Sometime In New York City’, studio outtakes, and the One To One concerts from Madison Square Garden.

3 days ago
Hall & Oates - Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Hall & Oates Resolve Legal Feud After Two-Year Battle

Daryl Hall and John Oates—one of music’s most successful duos have finally brought closure to their highly publicized legal dispute.

4 days ago
Rod Stewart Atlantic Crossing
Rod Stewart Atlantic Crossing Turns 50

When Rod Stewart released Atlantic Crossing in August 1975, it marked one of the most dramatic pivots in his career. Not only was it his sixth studio album, but it was also his first recorded entirely in the United States, following his move from London to Los Angeles. The title itself is a cheeky nod to that relocation, signalling that Stewart was ready to embrace a more polished, Americanised sound — and perhaps, a broader commercial reach.

4 days ago
Matchbox
Graham Fenton (1949–2025): Rockabilly Rebel and Voice of Matchbox

Graham Fenton, the frontman of the British rockabilly band Matchbox, passed away on 10 August 2025 at the age of 76.

6 days ago
Deep Purple Made In Japan 2025
Deep Purple ‘Made in Japan’ — the 50th-Anniversary Edition and Why This Live Album Still Matters

Few live rock albums have the mythic status of Deep Purple’s Made in Japan. Recorded across three blistering nights in August 1972 and originally released in late 1972/early 1973, it’s the record that crystallised the ferocious power of Deep Purple’s Mk II lineup (Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover and Ian Paice) and set a blueprint for stadium-scale hard rock and heavy metal live performance.

7 days ago
Bobby Whitlock
Derek & The Dominos Founder Bobby Whitlock Dies At Age 77

Bobby Whitlock (March 18, 1948 – August 10, 2025)—American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and a soulful architect of rock music, Bobby Whitlock has passed away at 77 after a brief battle with cancer at his Texas home, surrounded by family.

7 days ago