Arctic Monkeys Are Big Winners At NME Awards

Arctic Monkeys were the big winners at this year's NME Awards - picking up five gongs.

They picked up best album for AM, best live band and best British band, lead singer Alex Turner was voted hero of the year and the Arctics also landed the best fan community prize.

Sir Paul McCartney collected an honorary prize for his songwriting skills and admitted: "The great thing about songwriting is that you don't know how you do it, so you can't talk about it."

The former Beatle was given a standing ovation as he was handed the honour by Damon Albarn.

"What can I say other than I love him like millions and millions of other people. He's a lovely spirit and a beautiful human being," Albarn said.

The Blur and Gorillaz star was himself a winner, collecting the innovation prize for the continual reinvention of his career.

Lily Allen was named best solo artist after her return to the industry from 'retirement'.

"This is kind of dumb because David Bowie was in the same category, and Jake Bugg. This goes to you guys, not me," she said.

Belle & Sebastian collected the outstanding contribution to music prize, with Scottish guitarist Stevie Jackson joking about David Bowie's Brit Awards plea for Scotland to remain in the UK.

"England stay with us - at least just for a night. And if we do leave you, let's stay friends," he said.

US band Blondie, fronted by 68-year-old Debbie Harry, were handed the Godlike genius prize.

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