Keyboardist Rick Wakeman is honoured by The Queen and made a CBE

Legendary keyboardist Rick Wakeman, that played with bands like Yes and David Bowie, was honoured by The Queen and made a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire). In an interview with PA news, the musician said that he wished his mother and father were here to see this moment.

Keyboardist Rick Wakeman talks about being honored by The Queen and made a CBE:

“It’s a mixture of stunned and genuinely very proud. In a strange way, my first thought was, ‘Gosh, I wish my mum and dad were here to witness this’ but then I realised, of course, that my dad would be 105 and mum would be 103 – so the odds were heavily stacked against that.”

“I am quite literally stunned and proud is the only way I can describe it. Friends who know me and have been in the business know I never expected a thing like this. I can only say thank you very much. So I really feel very honoured and proud.”

“I have carried on making music but sometimes you are making music and go, ‘Why am I doing this? There is no end in sight as to when we can play live, when we can do stuff’. As a recognition, for me coming out of lockdown, coming out of everything, to get this is even more special.”

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Standing for Commander of the Order of the British Empire, the CBE is the highest ranking Order of the British Empire award (excluding a knighthood/damehood), followed by OBE and then MBE. The CBE is awarded to individuals for having a prominent role at national level. Or a leading role at regional level.