Mick Jagger gets knighthood
LONDON, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The Rolling Stones' frontman, Mick Jagger was knighted Friday at Buckingham Palace by Prince Charles.
Jagger is now formally Sir Mick Jagger. The 60-year-old rock legend was knighted by Prince Charles, who was standing in for the queen, who had knee surgery.
Jagger downplayed the event, saying, "It's very nice to have honors given to you as long as you don't take it all too seriously."
Fellow Rolling Stone Keith Richards hit out last week at what he called Jagger's "ludicrous" decision to accept such a "paltry honor", saying, "It's not what the Stones is about, is it?"
Sir Mick was accompanied to Buckingham Palace where he received his knighthood for services to music by his father Joe, 92, and daughters Elizabeth, 19, and Karis, 32, the BBC reported.
Jagger, 60, said he was "very relaxed" with the prince because "I've met him quite a few times and we've had some nice chats."
Previous rock and pop stars to have received knighthoods are Sir Elton John, Sir Cliff Richard and Sir Paul McCartney.
Jackson's parents: People are just vicious
NEW YORK, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Michael Jackson's parents say the media have tarnished the pop star's reputation and their son is not a child molester.
In an interview to be broadcast on Britain's ITV, parts of which are to be aired Friday night on ABC's "20/20," Katherine Jackson says her son "loved children" and the charges pending against him are the result of the "many vicious people out there."
Joe Jackson said they never warned Michael about showing affection to children because "there's nothing wrong with hugging a kid or nothing."
"But, they're so -- I don't know what you call it -- here in America ... You can't hug a kid, you can't spank him or nothing," he said.
Jackson's parents described their son as a good father who is more lenient with his children than they were. They also said the three youngsters already are showing musical talent.
Osbourne's life saved by security guard
LONDON, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Ozzy Osbourne has a security guard to thank for restarting his breathing after this week's all-terrain vehicle crash, the London Sun reported Friday.
Osbourne's wife, Sharon, said Ozzy, 55, had stopped breathing for a minute and a half before the unidentified security employee revived him.
"He has got such horrendous injuries to his body. His whole body is traumatized," she said. "But thank God the security guard was there to revive him."
The former Black Sabbath frontman suffered a cracked vertebra in his neck and eight broken ribs Monday when the 4-wheel vehicle toppled on top of him at his Buckinghamshire estate.
He remains in intensive care near London, where he is heavily sedated and on a ventilator.
Doctors will only be able to assess any permanent damage after he is off the ventilator, the newspaper said.
Columbia Records teams up with wrestlers
NEW YORK, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Columbia Records Group has partnered with the World Wrestling Enterprises to produce albums on behalf of the wrestling world.
The deal, according to Billboard.com, calls for three albums over two years, with an option to renew.
The first release, due out in January and titled "WWE Originals," will feature star wrestlers performing songs written primarily by Jim Johnston, a WWE staff songwriter.
The agreement is the second between the two entities. In 2002, Sony, a division of Columbia Records Group, issued one album for the organization, "WWF Forceable Entry," which sold 500,000 units. (The World Wrestling Federation has since changed its name to WWE following litigation with the World Wildlife Fund.)
A prior recording contract between the wrestling entertainment giant and Koch Entertainment, which produced five records featuring theme music played at wrestling events, resulted in more than four million copies sold.
Sony Music Distribution currently distributes the WWE's video products.
