Blues legend BB King is to be presented with the Presidential Medal Of Freedom, America's highest civilian honour, on 15 December. US President George W Bush will present the honour at the White House, and says "for more than half a century, the King of the Blues and his guitar Lucille have thrilled audiences", adding that the musician had "influenced generations of guitarists" and "helped give the blues its special place in the American musical tradition".
King said: "It's been a long journey, but I've enjoyed every minute of it, bringing the blues to so many enthusiastic audiences."
All true, but are civil honours for rock and blues musicians a good idea? Let us know...
“This golden gain machine covers the entire spectrum from gritty boost through to full-on fuzz”: Great Eastern FX’s Focus Fuzz Deluxe has got boost, drive, octave, fuzz... everything going on
“The mini humbucker fits into the same sized pickup cavity as a P-90 and delivers low-noise humbucking pickup performance and a slightly brighter and more open tone”: Gibson remixes the Les Paul Special with mini humbuckers
