The annual Q Awards took place in London’s Grosvenor House Hotel in front of a star-studded audience. Guests at the lunchtime event included Coldplay, David Gilmour, Keane, Roger Daltrey, Kaiser Chiefs, John Mellencamp, Stereophonics, Tom Jones, The Fratellis, Keane, Sugababes, Glen Campbell, Adam Ant, Grace Jones and Meat Loaf, to name a few.
Legendary Pink Floyd singer and guitarist David Gilmour picked up the Gibson Guitar sponsored Outstanding Contribution To Music Award and dedicated it to his late band mate Richard Wright, who died from cancer last month.
David Gilmour said he would never perform certain Pink Floyd songs again because Richard Wright was such a great part of them. "There's all sorts of music that I will not be able to play again without him, which is a source of sadness for me."
In an emotional tribute, David Gilmour hailed Wright as the unsung hero of the band. "You could say that he worked in the position of second fiddle, or slightly behind some of the pushier chaps up the front. But his work was vitally important to our entire career." David Gilmour also disclosed that one of Wright's last wishes was for the pair to play together at the Glastonbury festival. "We weren't able to do that, which is also a sadness."
Other winners at the Q Awards included Coldplay who took two awards including best album for Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends and for Best Act In The World. Picking up the best album prize, Chris Martin warned the crowd he was going "to bore the pants off them", before launching into his acceptance speech. At one point, he declared Coldplay were "the greatest band in the world", before adding bashfully: "Well, not quite the biggest band. U2 and Radiohead are on holiday”
Duffy won best breakthrough, while Keane picked up best track for comeback song Spiralling. Accepting the best track award, Keane's Tom Chaplain said: "I just read Q's review of our record and ironically the only song they hated was Spiralling, so thanks readers for disagreeing with the editor."
Q Magazine also honoured veteran artists including Grace Jones, who was named Q Idol and Glen Campbell, winner of the legend award. The Cocteau Twins were honoured by the magazine with a prize for inspiration. The band's Liz Fraser told the ceremony: "This is the first award we've ever won." Kaiser Chiefs gave their best live act award to their tour manager. The Classic Song award went to Meatloaf for Bat Out of Hell, while Vampire Weekend won the award for Best Video, for their song A-Punk. Massive Attack picked up a Q Award for Innovation In Sound.
Two Gibson Les Paul guitars were signed by many of the guest artists which will be auctioned off for the Teenage Cancer Trust at a later date.
For a full list of Q Award winners and video interviews please visit http://www.qthemusic.com/
