Producer Steve Lillywhite Honored With Commander of British Empire (CBE) Title

7:29 AM PST 12/31/2011 by Shirley Halperin

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The respected rock producer, who's worked extensively with U2, was named on Queen Elizabeth's New Year's list.

Producer Steve Lillywhite has been named a Commander of the British Empire (CBE). The honor was announced this morning by Britain's Queen Elizabeth in her New Year's list, a tradition that goes back centuries.

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The CBE is the third level in the Order of the British Empire after the Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GBE) and Knight/Dame Commander (KBE/DBE). Only the top two ranks receive the official title of Knight and the use of Sir or Dame.

Lillywhite has produced some of rock's greatest albums, including U2's Boy, October and War. He has also worked with Dave Matthews Band, Peter Gabriel, the Psychedelic Furs, Siouxsee and the Banshees, Morrissey, 30 Seconds to Mars and Matchbox Twenty. He later served as a staff producer at Island Records and an A&R executive at Columbia Records.

Lillywhite got his start in the music industry as a tape operator at Polygram in 1972.

Oasis singer Liam Gallagher was also named CBE on the Queen's list. Other musicians with the honor include Robert Plant, a CBE, and Annie Lennox, an OBE.