Black Sabbath win big at Classic Rock awards

BLACK Sabbath are the big winners at this year's Classic Rock Roll Of Honour, walking away with three top gongs.

The veteran rockers landed the Living Legend Award, while also winning Album of the Year for 13 and Event of the Year for hitting number one around the world with the album, including their biggest ever hit in the US.

Manic Street Preachers founding member and guitarist James Dean Bradfield picked up the Musicians’Union Maestro Award, The Virginmarys were the winners of the Breakthrough Award and the late Irish guitar legend Rory Gallagher was honoured with the Tommy Vance Inspiration Award.

The awards at the Roundhouse in Camden, London, also saw legendary manager, film producer and humanitarian Shep Gordon recognised with theVIP Award. For more than 40 years, Shep has managed Alice Cooper and along the way has helped to sculpt the careers of a whole host of friends in the entertainment industry. 

Winners of five reader-voted categories were also announced through the evening. 

As well as Sabbath's Best Album nod, The Temperance Movement were voted Best New Band, while Band of the Year went to the Rolling Stones after their sell-out Hyde Park gigs and Glastonbury headlining slot. Fellow rock legends Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin were also winners picking up Re-issue Of The Year for ‘Rumours – 35th Anniversary Edition’ and Film Of The Year for ‘Celebration Day’ respectively.

Finally, closing the night with a red-hot performance, The Darkness walked away with the Showmen Award. 

Classic Rock Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Scott Rowley said: “This year's winners are a who's who of British pioneers, from Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, the Stones and Fleetwood Mac winning the popular vote to John Mayall, Mott The Hoople and Wilko Johnson honoured in our special awards. 

"And with The Temperance Movement and Virginmarys coming through there's still hope for the future of British rock too.”

The full list of winners is: 

The Living Legend Award (sponsored by Orange Amplification) – Black Sabbath

Event Of The Year (sponsored by Roadrunner) – Black Sabbath go to #1 spot

Breakthrough Award – Virginmarys

The Musicians’ Union Maestro – James Dean Bradfield

Tommy Vance Inspiration Award (sponsored by Spinefarm Records) – Rory Gallagher

Outstanding Contribution (sponsored by Monitor Audio) – Mott the Hoople

Classic Album (sponsored by Eagle Rock) – ‘Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton’ – John Mayall

V.I.P. Award (sponsored by currencies.co.uk) – Shep Gordon

Metal Guru (sponsored by Mascot Label Group) – Zakk Wylde

Best New Band (sponsored by Kraken) – The Temperance Movement

Album Of The Year (sponsored by Live Nation) – Black Sabbath ‘13’

Reissue Of The Year (sponsored by Alchemy) – Fleetwood Mac ‘Rumours 35th Anniversary Edition’

Film Of The Year  – Led Zeppelin ‘Celebration Day’

Band Of The Year (sponsored by Investec) – The Rolling Stones

Spirit Of Prog (sponsored by USM / UMC) – Alex Lifeson

The Showmen – The Darkness

Innovator – Wilko Johnson

Arctic Monkeys see three-fold spike on Spotify

TRIUMPHANT sets at last weekend's Glastonbury Festival have seen a huge spike in streaming for leading bands on Spotify.

Arctic Monkeys were the big winners with a 329 per cent increase in streams following from their headline performance on the Pyramid Stage last Friday.

Chic featuring Nile Rodgers’ disco heavy set on the West Holts stage on Friday saw streams of the bands biggest hits rocket by 260 per cent, with Spotify users turning to the service to listen to their greatest hits which include, I Want Your Love, Le Freak and Everybody Dance.

Public Enemy were next on the list with streaming up 148 per cent, followed by The Rolling Stones at 125 per cent.

Portishead, Dizzee Rascal and Hurts also benefited.

Spotify has since put together a Glastonbury playlist, which you can check out below.

Rolling Stones up for four NME awards

THE grandfathers of rock The Rolling Stones are up for four gongs at next month's NME Awards.

The band are up Best Live Band, Best Book, Music Moment of The Year and Best Music Film. 

Tame Impala, Haim and M.I.A. are also each up for four awards. Tame Impala gets a nod for Best International Band, Best Album, Best Track and Best Music Video. Haim, who won the BBC's sound of 2013 competition, are up for Best New Band, Best Track, Best Music Video, Best Twitter.

M.I.A. is up for Best Track, Best Music Video, Best Dancefloor Anthem and Best Twitter.

The Maccabees are up for three along with Arctic Monkeys and David Bowie, while Muse and Kasabian are also nominated.

The Maccabees, Biffy Clyro and The Cribs are battling for Best British Band and Best Live act. Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian and The Vaccines also receive nods for Best British Band while Blur, Foals and The Rolling Stones are also up for Best Live act.  

Mercury-winning Alt J are up for best album, along with The Maccabees, The Vaccines, Jake Bugg and Tame Impala.

The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, February 27 at The Troxy in East London.