Adele, M.I.A., Beyonce, Frank Ocean and Metallica were among the winners at the 2017 NME Awards, held Wednesday night (Feb. 15) at the O2 Academy in Brixton, south London.
Just days after scooping five categories at the Grammy Awards, Adele collected honors in the best festival headliner category for her Pyramid Stage triumph at the 2016 Glastonbury fest. But it didn’t turn out to be a landslide night for the Londoner. She lost out to M.I.A. for best British female and in the “hero of the year” category, won by Beyonce.
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Frank Ocean’s comeback proved a big hit in the U.K. when Blonde (Boys Don’t Cry) gave the U.S. soul star his first chart-topper, and he was rewarded Wednesday night with best international male honors. Christine & The Queens (aka French-born Héloïse Letissier) won best international female.
Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro were named best British band, indie pop outfit Bastille took out best British album for their chart-leading sophomore set Wild World and grime artist Skepta claimed British male artist. There’s a good chance Skepta will collect more silverware in the days ahead. The rapper and producer (real name Joseph Junior Adenuga) is up for a hattrck of awards at next Wednesday’s (Feb. 22) Brit Awards, including an album of the year nod for his Mercury Music Prize winner Konnichiwa (Boy Better Know).
Metallica put their glitchy Grammys performance behind them with a win for best international band. Coldplay’s Glastonbury Festival tribute to Viola Beach, whose members died in a car accident last year in Sweden, was declared the “music moment of the year,” and Glastonbury won for best festival.
5 Seconds Of Summer again received the dubious honor of worst band, while “Brexit” campaigner Nigel Farage was named villain of the year.
Electro-pop duo Pet Shop Boys received the “Godlike Genius” award from Smiths’ guitarist Johnny Marr, himself a recipient of the award in 2013. “Our career has been such a huge collaboration with producers, programmers, remixers and I would just like to thank every one of them – and accept this on behalf of electronic music, dance music and shiny pop music,” Pet Shop Boys singer Neil Tennant said as he collected the trophy. “Thank you very much.” The veteran act closed out the night with a career-spanning hits set.
The annual awards are voted on by readers of the NME music news title.
NME Awards winners in full:
Best British Band supported by Zig-Zag
Biffy Clyro – WINNER
Best International Band supported by Austin, Texas – Live Music Capital Of The World
Metallica – WINNER
Best British Male supported by Pilot Pen Company
Skepta – WINNER
Best British Female
MIA – WINNER
Best International Male supported by VO5
Frank Ocean – WINNER
Best International Female supported by VO5
Christine & The Queens – WINNER
Best New Artist supported by TOPMAN
Dua Lipa – WINNER
Best Album supported by HMV
Bastille – ‘Wild World’ – WINNER
Best Track supported by Red Stripe
Christine And The Queens – ‘Tilted’ – WINNER
Best Live Band supported by Nikon
The 1975 – WINNER
Best Video
Slaves – ‘Consume Or Be Consumed’ – WINNER
Best Festival supported by ID&C
Glastonbury – WINNER
Best Music Film
Oasis: Supersonic – WINNER
Best TV Series supported by Domino’s
Fleabag – WINNER
Best Film
My Scientology Movie – WINNER
Music Moment Of The Year
Coldplay’s Viola Beach tribute at Glastonbury – WINNER
Best Festival Headliner
Adele – WINNER
Best Small Festival
End Of The Road – WINNER
Villain Of The Year
Nigel Farage – WINNER
Hero Of The Year
Beyoncé – WINNER
Worst Band
5 Seconds Of Summer – WINNER
Best Reissue
Oasis – ‘Be Here Now’ – WINNER
Godlike Genius Award
Pet Shop Boys