Ringo Starr of the Beatles and Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees have both received knighthoods for services to music. Britain publishes an honors list twice a year to recognize people based on merit, service or bravery.
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Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and the last surviving member of the Bee Gees, Barry Gibb, were among the people selected for knighthood on the 2018 New Year's Honors List released on Friday.
Britain's Cabinet Office publishes a list of the people receiving honors for merit, service or bravery twice a year: just before New Year's Eve, and on the Saturday in June when Queen Elizabeth II's birthday is officially observed.
Read more:Liverpool: the Beatles Home Town in England
Starr, who received his knighthood under his real name, Richard Starkey, was honored for his services to music. Starr joined The Beatles in 1962, taking over from Pete Best, and occasionally sang lead vocals, most notably in Yellow Submarine and With a Little Help from My Friends.
"It's great!" Starr said of his knighthood in a brief message on Friday. "It's an honor and a pleasure to be considered and acknowledged for my music and my charity work, both of which I love. Peace and love. Ringo."
When The Beatles split up in 1970, Starr continued to record and has released a total of 19 studio albums since then.
Drumming is his middle name: Ringo Starr
He was one-fourth of the most famous rock band of all time and followed up his Beatles era with an impressive solo career. As he turns 80, here's a look at Ringo Starr's career.
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Hall of fame
He was knighted two years ago, and in 2015 Ringo Starr became the fourth Beatle to be accepted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. Now the drummer can celebrate his 80th birthday, with just about every title the industry has to offer.
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Second choice
The world knows him as Ringo Starr, but his mother as Richard Henry Parkin Starkey. He was born in Liverpool on July 7, 1940, during World War II. Starr wasn't a co-founding member of the band that would change his life. The Beatles launched in 1960 as a quintet featuring John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best on drums.
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The big break
Just before the Beatles signed their first record deal in 1962, the band restructured. Bassist Stuart Sutcliffe quit, only to die tragically of an aneurysm shortly afterward. Then Pete Best was replaced by Ringo Starr, ushering in a new era of rock and roll. Hits like "Love Me Do" took the world by storm — and everyone loved Ringo's drumming style.
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Not just a drummer
It's not that common for a drummer to also sing, but for the hit "Yellow Submarine," Ringo took on the lead vocals. Fortunately, Paul McCartney kept the melody simple while writing the song. Ringo also tried his hand at songwriting, most famously with the number "Octopus's Garden" from the "Abbey Road" album.
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Ringo the actor
Beatlemania reached its climax in the late 1960s. With one sold-out concert after another, the boys with the bowl cuts had become global superstars — but not necessarily the best of friends. In 1970, conflict between Paul and John caused the Beatles to break up. Ringo then took his career to the silver screen. In 1971 he had a role in the Italian spaghetti western "Blindman."
After so much stardom, Starr developed an interest in helping others and, for example, joined George Harrison's campaign for refugees following the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. On August 1 of that year, Ringo joined Harrison, Bob Dylan and Leon Russell at the Concert for Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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The family man
Ringo went to the altar for the first time in 1965 when he married his girlfriend Maureen Cox. The two Liverpool natives had three children, Zak, Jason and Lee. Zak took after his father and is now a drummer with the band The Who. Ringo and Maureen divorced after 10 years. In 1980, Ringo met actress Barbara Bach (photo) on the film set for the movie "Caveman." They have been married since 1981.
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Solo career
When the Beatles split up in 1970, Paul and John launched solo projects. Ringo didn't lose any time in releasing two albums that year — one with pre-rock standards and the other a flirtation with country music. Since 1989, Ringo has been touring with his ensemble, Ringo Starr and the All-Starr Band, pictured here.
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Crossing paths
Ringo continued to perform with all three Beatle buddies even after the band broke up. He released the George Harrison-produced hit single "It Don't Come Easy" in 1970, a top-10 hit in the US, Great Britain and Germany. Ringo and Paul McCartney are pictured here at a Grammy tribute concert to the Beatles in LA in 2014, which took place one day after the Grammy Awards.
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Ringo Drumming Starr
"I like Beethoven, especially his poems," Ringo famously said. Then there's the quote: "America. It's like Britain, only with buttons." His frequently cited quotes reveal his quirky humor — and also his passion for drumming. After all, "Drumming is my middle name."
(This is an updated version of a previously written picture gallery.)
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His knighthood comes more than 50 years after he and the other members of the Beatles were made Members of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. The only other living Beatles member, Paul McCartney, was knighted in 1997.
Barry Gibb, the last surviving member of the Bee Gees, was recognized for services to music and charity. The Bee Gees formed in the late 1950s and were leaders of the disco movement in the 1970s.
Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb (L-R)Image: Reuters
Gibb said he was dedicating his knighthood to his late bandmates, twin brothers Robin Gibb, who died in 2012, and Maurice Gibb, who died in 2003.
"I want to acknowledge how responsible my brothers are for this honor," said Gibb, 71. "It is as much theirs as it is mine."
"This is a moment in life to be treasured and never forgotten," he said.
The process of knighthood starts with nominations from the public, which first are reviewed by a specialist committee and then by a main honors committee. The nominations are then sent to the prime minister before the various honors are bestowed by the queen or senior royals.
