Bono Granted Knighthood

The AP reports that Britain confirmed that the Bono, the U2 frontman known for his humanitarian efforts, will be a knight of the empire. The knighthood will be honorary and he won't be called Sir because he is Irish, not "a national of Britain or the Commonwealth of former British colonies." The knighthood will be granted by the British Ambassador to Ireland at a ceremony in Dublin shortly after New Years Day.

The most interesting part of the story for me is that Bono's real name is Paul Hewson. Bono hopes that the honor will help him get more donors for his campaign for Western aid to Africa.

The AP also reveals that "[p]revious non-British nationals who received knighthoods include Bono's fellow Dubliner and rocker-turned-humanitarian Bob Geldof, Bill Gates, the Spanish opera singer Placido Domingo, Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal, former New York Mayor Rudolf Giuliani, and Steven Spielberg."

Photo from MSNBC.