NME Awards

In my younger days, I would read the NME religiously and buy into any band that they decided to push but now I am much more choosy, maybe cynical and when once these awards were important, for me they now lack the edge and aren't as "alternative" as they once were.

There weren't that many surprises really but nothing that really offended me and it was interesting that Franz Ferdinand continue their amazing year and also that it was another empty awards ceremony for Snow Patrol. The superbly named "Godlike Genius Award" that has previously gone to Alan McGhee, The Beatles and John Peel went to New Order and who could argue with that.

Special mention must go to John Peels wife and son who attended the awards ceremony to collect the "Hero of the Year" gong for John. This was a very brave thing to do and Fergal Sharkey gave a beautiful speech that resulted in a standing ovation and more than a few tears.

Award shows are not my cup of tea as one mans Beatles is another mans Busted but at least rather than being decided by a group of industry bigwigs, these awards are voted by the readers of the NME, but then the winners list has probably more to do with editorial decition rather than raw talent and originality.

Al