Brian May has commented further on being made a Knight Bachelor by King Charles at an investiture ceremony Tuesday at Buckingham Palace in London, adding what he hopes to accomplish with his new title.
The Queen guitarist, recognized for his services to music and charity, particularly animal rights, says, “Yes, I’m a little quiet following the investiture of me as a Knight of the Realm…
“I’m actually amazed at the coverage my knighthood got globally — I’m hoping it will mean that more people will listen to me when I pitch in against government handling of the remains of blood sports and the shameful and utterly failed policy of slaughtering around a QUARTER OF A MILLION NATIVE badgers in the tragically mistaken belief that it would eradicate the miserable disease of bovine Tuberculosis in cattle.
“This year in the worst hit TB region in the Southwest [of England], farmers saw an INCREASE in herd breakdowns on the previous year — and there are virtually no badgers left — so nobody can cling to the belief that ‘it was the badgers’ anymore. Yet, still the lunacy goes on. Perhaps it needs a knight in the shining armor of common sense to actually bring focus back to the real reasons for the continuing misery of the cattle farmers. And, perhaps even to bring compassion and decency to the countryside. Well, I’m ready, in harness.”
May was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2005, and now he joins a list of musical knights that includes Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Martin, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Ray Davies and Tom Jones.
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