The UK magazine New Musical Express (NME)
at one time boasted a circulation of 200,000; this has fallen
to 75,000, although the magazine is still seen as a necessary
ally for new bands wishing to break through into the mainstream.
The readers of the still influential magazine voted for The
Libertines as Britain’s Best Band at the NME Awards
in preference to the million-sellers Coldplay and Radiohead.
Strangely the recently all conquering and omnipresent The
Darkness were not favoured by the voters.
The band very nearly ceased to exist a short
time ago, after the arrest conviction and sentencing to 6
months jail of guitarist and song-writer Pete Doherty for
breaking into the London flat of lead singer Carl Barat. Doherty
was trying to fund a long term and expensive drug habit. An
appeal and forgiveness from Barat plus an agreement to addiction
treatment shortened his sentence and restored him to the band.
A sold-out tour followed and their new album is expected to
enter the charts at No 1. – So, it’s optimistic
and heart-warming stuff, which just goes to show forgiveness,
and perseverance can sort things out! Let’s hope that
it all stays well for the band
The Libertines were one of the successful acts
in the ETEP Programme at Eurosonic/Noorderslag in 2003 scoring
a spot on the bill for the Haldem Open Air Festival in Germany
as a result of their appearance. Franz Ferdinand Appeared
at Eurosonic this year, a gig that I very much enjoyed, and
have been offered a raft of Festival appearances (full report
in the next Vip News). The Scottish band continued their storming
success by picking up the Radar Award for Innovation after
a year in which their eponymous debut album became one of
the fastest sellers of the year.
Established acts were not passed over, Radiohead
scored twice, including Best Album. Ozzy Osbourne still recuperating
from his recent quadbike accident was not able to pick it
up the ‘Godlike Genius’ Lifetime Achievement award
in person. The NME Awards, although I’m sure preferring
to distance themselves, couldn’t help crossing over
with the industry-sponsored Brit Awards, are all also nominated
for next week’s event.
American acts scored well: The White Stripes
took the Best Single award; Ryan Adams was Best Solo Artist,
Queens of the Stone Age were the Best Live Act and Kings of
Leon won two awards.
Another ex-offender with a prison record continued
his remarkable rehabilitation with A Living Legend award,
Arthur Lee, the Californian leader of the psychedelic band
Love, whose 1967 album Forever Changes (quite rightly!) is
still considered one of the greatest album of all time. Songs
from the album will be played by the re-formed Love on a British
tour this month.
The awards, presented in West London, will be
screened on MTV2 this Sunday.
The Full Award List:
Best UK band: The Libertines
Best album: Hail To The Thief, Radiohead
Best single: Seven Nation Army, The White Stripes
Best international band: Kings of Leon
Best new band: Kings of Leon
Best live band: Queens of the Stone Age
Best solo artist: Ryan Adams
Best video: There There, Radiohead
Radar award: Franz Ferdinand
Innovation award: Dizzee Rascal
“Living Legend”: Arthur Lee (Love)
“Godlike Genius”: Ozzy Osbourne
Rock & roll man of the year: Har Mar Superstar
Rock & roll woman of the year: Brody Dalle (The Distillers)
