WASHINGTON, England, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has scorned rebel rock and roller Mick Jagger's decision to accept a knighthood from the Queen.
According to London's The Independent newspaper, Richards says he went "berserk" when he heard of his bandmate's decision to accept the honor.
It was "ludicrous to take one of those gongs from the Establishment," and he was not happy to "step out on stage with someone wearing a ... coronet and sporting the old ermine."
This is the same "establishment" that in 1967 imprisoned the two for drug offenses, though the convictions were later overturned.
Jagger's investiture has already caused other controversy. The singer requested the date for the knighthood be moved from Dec. 10 to the 12th, so as not to share the limelight with England Rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson who is due to receive a Member of the British Empire on the 10th.
Friends from youth, Richards and Jagger last feuded publicly over Jagger's solo work in the 1980s.
Of the knighthood Richards says, echoing the view of many fans, "It's not what the Stones is about, is it?"
