eels frontman Mark Oliver Everett has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London at a ceremony in the British capital.

Everett accepted the traditional honour on Thursday (24Jul) just hours before his rock band's gig at the city's Barbican Centre.

He follows in the footsteps of previous recipients including Dame Judi Dench, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, Sir Michael Caine, Henry Winkler and fellow rocker Bob Geldof, who picked up the same accolade in September (13).