"Sir" Paul David Hewson

  Paul David Hewson, aka Bono, U2 front man, is being awarded an honorary knighthood by Her Majesty The Queen, for "his services to the music industry and for his humanitarian work".

  In 2006 Bono was named the most influential pop star of the past 25 years by MTV, and in February U2 won five Grammy Awards, album of the year for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and song of the year for Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own.

  Alongside Geldof, Bono organized the Live 8 concerts to coincide with the summit, and increase the pressure on Western leaders to take action.

  The 46-year-old Irish rock star will receive the honor early in the new year in Dublin. British ambassador David Reddaway will conduct the ceremony.

Prime Minister Tony Blair congratulated Bono for his work in the run up to 2005's G8 summit. "You have tirelessly used your voice to speak up for Africa".

  Honorary knighthoods are awarded to non-British nationals. Fellow Irish Bob Geldof received the same award in 1986. Bono will not be able to use the title "Sir".

  This is the latest award fir Bono. In 2003, he was awarded by President Jacques Chirac, the Legion D'Honneur on behalf of the French government.

  On the U2's web site Bono said that he was "very flattered to be honored, particularly if the honor ... opens doors for his long standing campaigning work against extreme poverty in Africa".

  Last year , Bono admitted that at one stage, he will have to leave U2 because of his commitment to the cause.

Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6206063.stm http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2006 -12-23T192646Z_01_L23116889_RTRUKOC_0_US-BONO- KNIGHT.xml&pageNumber=1&imageid=&cap=&sz=17&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1- ArticlePage1 http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2006 -12-23T192646Z_01_L23116889_RTRUKOC_0_US-BONO- KNIGHT.xml&pageNumber=0&imageid=&cap=&sz=17&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1- ArticlePage2 http://www.u2.com/news/?news_id=2082&PHPSESSID=4a552b48f04df04ed4309ab157