MUMBAI: Despite not having any BRIT nominations this year, English rock band- Kasabian took home three titles at this year’s NME awards. The four-piece band won three awards, after being nominated in eight categories, a record previously held by Oasis, who had seven nominations in 2009.
Kasabian won Best Album for their 2014 release ‘48:13’ and Best British band. The band has not shied away from criticising the BRIT awards, claiming a “conspiracy” against rock bands. More recently, lead guitarist Sergio Pizzorno, took a dig at Ed Sheeran, who has been nominated for four BRIT awards, stating that a win for the ‘Don’t’ singer would be “victory for the squares”. In a recent interview he said, “There's no surrealists, there's no fantasy in music. The squares are having their day. But I can foresee it coming to an end. There's only so long people will take it before they get bored. There's no danger any more. People aren't offering anything exciting. The squares are winning.”
Referring to Kasabian being omitted from the BRIT awards, he said, “I don't want us to be put in the same Best British Group category as Clean Bandit and One Direction. There's way more politics behind this than people realise. There's some strange names in there. I hope some of those people enjoy their night because it's the only time they'll be there." Kasabian also won Best Quote for “Five records, ten years. We’ve earned our shot” – Pizzorno said about headlining Glastonbury.
London singer- Jamie T also won three NME awards for Best track and Best Video, both for his track ‘Zombie’. The 29-year old’s comeback to music after five years was named Music moment of the Year. Another big winner on the night was new comers Royal Blood, who won Best New Band and Best Live Band. The drum and bass duo also presented Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Soul Awards.
Meanwhile, Suede won the NME Godlike Genius Awards, while Jake Bugg won Best Solo Artist award. Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner won Hero of the Year, Glastonbury won Best Festival and Foo Fighters won Best International Band.
NME also handed out an award for Worst Band, which went to Australian boy band- 5 Seconds of Summer, and Villain of the Year awards which went to UKIP leader Nigel Farage.
Editor of the music magazine, Mike Williams said, “It’s been an astounding year of comebacks and triumphs for Kasabian and Jamie T and their awards tonight prove it. The fans have spoken and along with newcomers Royal Blood they have been undoubtedly anointed as the biggest acts in the country right now. Most excitingly, none of the trio look set on slowing down any time soon.”
The NME awards took place on Wednesday, 18 February at south London’s Brixton Academy. Winners were voted for by the print magazine’s online readership.
Full list of winners:
Godlike genius award - Suede
Rock’n’roll soul award - Jimmy Page
Best British band - Kasabian
Best international band - Foo Fighters
Outstanding contribution to music - Teenage Cancer Trust
Best solo artist - Jake Bugg
Best new band - Royal Blood
Best live band - Royal Blood
Best album – ‘48:13’ by Kasabian
Best track - Zombie by Jamie T
Best video - Zombie by Jamie T
Best festival - Glastonbury
Philip Hall radar award - Dean Blunt
Best TV show - Game Of Thrones
Best film - Northern Soul
Best music film - Pulp: a Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets
Reissue of the year - The Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers
Dancefloor filler - Fancy by Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
Worst band - 5 Seconds Of Summer
Villain of the year - Nigel Farage
Hero of the year - Alex Turner
Music moment of the year - Jamie T’s comeback
Best fan community - Muse
Small festival of the year - Liverpool Psych Fest
Book of the year - Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys by Viv Albertine
Best band social media - Liam Gallagher’s Twitter
Best lyric - “I’m wearing Win Butler’s hair/There’s a scalpless singer in a Montreal rock band somewhere” by Happyness
Best quote - “Five records, ten years. We’ve earned our shot” - Sergio Pizzorno of Kasabian talking about headlining Glastonbury