Bruce Springsteen was in London Thursday where he was honored with a Fellow of The Ivors Academy.
The award is the highest honor that the British organization bestows, recognizing songwriting and composing, and acknowledging his impact on the U.K.’s cultural landscape.
And, making it extra special, Springsteen is the first-ever international songwriter that the Academy has inducted into its Fellowship in its 80-year history.
Paul McCartney, a previous honoree, presented Springsteen with his award, saying, “He’s a fantastic guy and he showed up for me at Glastonbury. He’s known (as the) American working man, but he’s never worked a day in his life... A lovely, lovely boy."
In accepting the award, Springsteen remembered touring the U.K. for the first time in 1975 and looking for something to eat.
“Cheeseburgers had either been hidden or been replaced by something called fish and chips. It was a little disconcerting,” adding that if London wasn’t ready for burgers, it wasn’t “ready” for him.
Springsteen is now the 27th Fellow, joining the likes of McCartney, Sting, Elton John, The Bee Gees and Peter Gabriel.
Also honored was Elton John’s lyricist, Bernie Taupin, who received the award for outstanding contribution to British music.