Branson honoured in Hollywood ceremony

British business tycoon Sir Richard Branson looked back on his career as one of the world’s most successful music executives as he was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The London-born billionaire and Virgin Records co-founder signed acts including the Spice Girls, Janet Jackson and Culture Club while helm of the label.

Yesterday he was recognised with a Walk of Fame star in the category of recording and during the ceremony shared memories of his career, including how he helped Sir Elton John produce the amended version of Candle In The Wind following Diana, Princess of Wales’ death in 1997.

He said: “I was partly responsible for the biggestselling single in history. I at the had been close to Princess Diana and when she died I decided to raise as much money as possible for her charities by putting out an album in her memory.

“I rang Elton John and asked if he and his writer, Bernie Taupin, could alter the lyrics of Candle In The Wind. He agreed.

“I then tried to get permission for him to play it at the service. Initially, the Royal Court were against it but with the help of Tony Blair and the archbishop, we persuaded them.”

He told the audience how he signed seminal punk band the Sex Pistols and how their influential album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, led him to court to defend the record against obscenity charges.

Sir Richard, who was knighted in 2000 for services to entrepreneurship, then joked he was nervous when the Queen raised her sword due to the band’s alternative version of God Save The Queen.

Lance Bass, from boy band NSYNC, introduced him to the stage.

He recalled how NSYNC, which launched Justin Timberlake’s career, were an unknown band and thanked Sir Richard – whose other projects include the airline Virgin Atlantic and the spaceflight company Virgin Galactic – for having faith in them.