Post by Taxigirl on Nov 7, 2003 18:53:28 GMT
Musicians Dave Gilmour and Jools Holland have received honours from the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
"I would not have believed that music would bring me such a great honour," said Holland who received an OBE.
"I think it is wonderful as it can encourage other musicians to see where things can lead," said the pianist.
The piano maestro, who was honoured for his services to music, began his career as a member of the group Squeeze and presented The Tube on Channel 4.
Royal approval
"I do not expect Her Majesty watches Later, I don't think she stays up that late," said Holland, referring to his late night live music show on BBC Two.
"But this is a great occasion, the great way of showing musicians everywhere that you do not have to lead a symphony orchestra to be recognised."
Gilmour, who attended the palace with his wife Holly and two of his eight children, donated £4.5m to help the homeless in May.
"I hope that primarily it is for what I have done in music, but if some of my... charity work has made a difference then I am happy about that," he said.
The guitarist won a global following with the prog rock band Pink Floyd in the 1970s.
"She said Pink Floyd had been doing it for a very long time and I had to agree," said Gilmour of his meeting with the Queen.
But despite his worldwide fanbase, the guitarist admitted to a few nerves.
"Playing to 100,000 people is not so nerve wracking, playing to a few people is much harder," he said. "It was not so bad today, but I was a bit nervous."
"I suspect that if she has listened to Pink Floyd... she is more likely to be the one to say 'turn it off'," joked Gilmour.