Oasis confirmed its influential status in the industry by clinching two of the top prizes at this year’s Q Awards yesterday (Oct. 10) at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. Oasis picked up not only best album for “Don’t Believe the Truth” (Big Brother), but also the people’s choice award.
Gorillaz (Parlophone), the virtual band co-founded by Damon Albarn, lead singer of Oasis’ former chart competitor Blur, also won two awards: best video (“Feel Good Inc”) and best producer (shared by Albarn and Danger Mouse for the album “Demon Days”).
Coldplay, currently touted as Oasis’ rival for chart dominance by the music press, walked away with the Aloud.com best act in the world today prize. But Chris Martin, Coldplay’s lead singer, used the occasion to criticize the media for fueling the rivalry in the first place. “They make our lives a misery; we don’t want to fight with anyone,” he declared.
The ceremony also acknowledged the role of emerging acts by presenting James Blunt (Atlantic) with the Island Records best new act award, while KT Tunstall (Relentless/EMI) won the Napster best track prize for her single “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.”
Rock and pop veterans also held their own, with the Bee Gees accepting the lifetime achievement award. Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page nabbed the icon award, while the Kinks’ Ray Davies collected the classic song prize for the 1960s hit “Waterloo Sunset.”
The most emotional moment came when Yoko Ono received a standing ovation while collecting the special award on behalf of her husband, the late John Lennon. She moved the audience with her anecdote about the days when she found herself reassuring Lennon that he was as widely admired as his co-songwriter and Beatles colleague Paul McCartney. “I miss that,” she added.
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