Melancholic rock band Radiohead and U.S. rockers Kings of Leon took top honors at Thursday’s NME music awards, winning two gongs each, while organizers bestowed “Godlike” status on Ozzy Osbourne.
Radiohead, who were nominated in five categories, took the highly prized Best Album award with “Hail To The Thief” while the band’s “There There” single was named Best Video.
Tennessee rock band Kings of Leon scooped the much coveted Best New Band and Best International Band awards after gaining glowing reviews for their album “Youth And Young Manhood.”
The Best Single Award went to U.S. rock duo The White Stripes for “7 Nation Army,” while the Libertines beat off Coldplay, The Darkness, Muse and Radiohead to be named Best UK Band.
Camp rockers The Darkness, who had been expected to be amongst the winners after being nominated in a number of categories, went home empty-handed.
Queens Of The Stone Age won Best Live Band while Kelly Osbourne picked up a “Godlike Genius” award for her father, the heavy metal rocker Ozzy who was too ill to make the ceremony after his serious quad bike accident last December.
To decide the awards, presented in London by Vernon Kay, a record 25,000-plus votes were cast by readers of the magazine.
New York disco darlings the Scissor Sisters opened the show while homegrown talent The Libertines and Franz Ferdinand also performed.
Last year Coldplay and Oasis took top honors at the awards, winning two prizes each.