Arctic Monkeys were the only double winners at the big NME Awards bash at the Hammersmith Palais last night. They took the prize for Best Album for 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' as well as Best DVD for 'Scummy Man'. Though, that said, Muse were named Best British Band while their frontman Matt Bellamy was proclaimed Sexiest Man, so in a way they won two awards also.
Other winners included My Chemical Romance who were named Best International Band, Kasabian who took Best Live Act, Jamie T who won Best Solo Act and The Klaxons who took the newcomer prize. The Reading/Leeds Festival was named Best Live Event in the poll, all voted for by NME readers, while the Brixton Academy was named Best Venue. Meanwhile The Philip Hall Radar Award, one of the few selected by the NME editorial team rather than voted for by readers, and designed to big up brand new talent, went to the rather wonderful The Twang. On winning that gong the band told CMU: "It's mad - we've not even done anything yet! It's ace and a privilege - we've always read the NME while growing up and read about the awards so it's wicked".
Unlike at the Brits, Lily Allen didn't miss out on a gong at the NME Awards, though it was for Worst Dressed, which I don't suppose makes up for much. Elsewhere in the worst categories, Panic! At The Disco was named Worst Band while poor old Robbie Williams got the Worst Album prize for his 2006 long player 'Rude Box' (in fact we hear Robbie received one of the highest percentage of votes in any NME awards category ever, which presumably won't cheer up the already pretty down Mr Williams too much - though given he was up against four indie-tastic acts that's not that surprising really - and let's not forget, even a poorly received Robbie album outsells long players from pretty much every other artist shortlisted at the NME Awards).
Alongside Muse's Matt Bellamy in the all important 'sexiest' awards section was Kate Moss, who was named Sexiest Woman, despite everyone else in the 'sexiest' shortlists coming from planet indie, and Moss coming from, hell, I don't know what planet. Moss and sometime boyfriend Pete Doherty were in attendance at the awards show, although the sexiest gongs aren't actually formally presented, but she was due to present the lifetime achievement style Godlike Genius prize to Primal Scream. Unfortunately the couple were kicked out of the venue before Moss' presenting duties were required. Though before you assume it was rolled up twenties in the toilets that got the infamous couple evicted, it seems that the couple getting too, erm, "amorous", was the reason. The NME quote an anonymous source as saying: "Pete and Kate were trying to get into the premises' toilets but they were removed by the bouncers and told to go back to their table. Later they were both caught in a dark alleyway at the back of the building. So we got their own security guards to put them in a car and take them home".
In the end The Clash's Mick Jones joined NME editor Conor McNicholas to present Primal Scream with their Godlike Genius award. Jones joined the band during their awards set too for a cover of The Clash's 1978 song '(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais', something of a tribute to the legendary venue hosting the awards, which is to be demolished later this year of course.
Anyway, here's your winners list in full...
Best British Band: Muse
Best International Band: My Chemical Romance
Best Solo Artist: Jamie T
Best New Band: Klaxons
Best Live Band: Kasabian
Philip Hall Radar Award: The Twang
John Peel Innovation Award: Enter Shikari
Best Album: Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Best Track: The View - Wasted Little DJs
Best Video: The Killers - Bones
Best Music DVD: Arctic Monkeys - Scummy Man
Best Live Event: Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds festivals
Best TV Show: The Mighty Boosh
Best Radio Show: Zane Lowe, Radio 1
Best Film: Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Sexiest Man: Matt Bellamy
Sexiest Woman: Kate Moss
Worst Band: Panic! At The Disco
Worst Album: Robbie Williams - Rudebox
Worst Dressed: Lily Allen
Best Dressed: Faris Rotter
Villain Of The Year: George W Bush
Hero Of The Year: Gerard Way
Best Venue: Carling Brixton Academy
Best Website: YouTube