Blur's Alex James Given Honorary Doctorate Degree

Plenty of musicians have honorary doctorates, but few have shared the non-music interests of Blur bassist Alex James. After playing on Britpop classics like 'Parklife' and 'Song 2,' James now lives on a farm in Oxfordshire where he has taken up cheese-making. Now he's been honored with a Doctorate degree from Bournemouth University.

"Follow your heart is the thing, whenever you find anything that you love, even if people think it's ridiculous," James said on Friday after he accepted his Doctorate of Arts from the University's Media School. "So when I say 'cheese' people laugh. But I don't care 'cause I love the stuff. If you find something you love just go after it with all guns blazing. Go on you beauties. Go get 'em!"

James, who lived as a child in Bournemouth and first learned to play guitar there, added, "It feels hugely flattering. It's a great honor and what's really nice is coming back to Bournemouth, which holds a very dear place in my heart. It's just so nice to see the place thrumming and full of young people smiling. It's rocking! It's happening."

In addition to his career in music, James is a journalist contributing to several UK papers and magazines. He also writes a regular food column for the Sun.