Arctic Monkeys, Amy Winehouse top Q Awards
The Arctic Monkeys were honoured as the best music act in the world at the 21st annual Q Awards in London.
The annual trophies, handed out by influential British music magazine Q, also gave embattled soul singer Amy Winehouse the prize for best album for Back to Black. Winehouse has been fighting a public battle with drug addiction. She did not attend the noon-time ceremonies at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Monday.
Other major winners included ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, bestowed the title of Q Icon. He thanked his former bandmates, his children and his late wife, Linda.
“I thank Linda for seeing me through some real tough periods,” said McCartney, who notably excluded his estranged wife Heather Mills, whom he’s divorcing.
“I’ve been doing this since I was just a little bairn and it’s still the same for me now ó still the same magic, still the same emotion, still the same thrill.”
Minogue nervous on ‘first day back at work’
Australian songbird Kylie Minogue got a standing ovation after she was announced the winner of the Q Idol award.
“Just don’t ask me what it means, but I’m very grateful and honoured to be receiving this,” the 39-year-old pop diva, who recently recovered from breast cancer.
“It’s my first day back at work Ö so it’s very exciting and slightly nerve-wracking.”
Other winners included:
Top single: Your Love Alone is Not Enough by Manic Street Preachers.
Best video: Ruby, Kaiser Chiefs.
Best new act: The Enemy.
Best live act: Muse.
Innovation in sound: Sigur Ros.
Best classic songwriter: Billy Bragg.
Best classic album: Urban Hymns by the Verve.
Lifetime achievement: Johnny Marr, ex-guitarist for the Smiths.
A Q Hero award was given posthumously to the late Tony Wilson, the founder of Manchester’s Factory Records and the man credited with bringing acts such as Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays to the world.
Peter Hook of Joy Division struggled to hold back the tears as he paid tribute to Wilson, known as Mr. Manchester, and presented the prize to Wilson’s two children.
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