The Arctic Monkeys and 'Killers' Win Big at BRIT

Mon, 15 January 2007 12:00:00 ET

The Arctic Monkeys and The Killers were the big winners at last night's (14.02.07) BRITs winning two awards each. The Arctic Monkeys scooped British Group and MasterCard British Album, for 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not', but were not present to collect their statuettes. Instead they recorded two video messages, dressed as characters from 'The Wizard of Oz' in one and as the members of 70s band The Village People in the other, thanking organisers for their prizes.

The Killers won International Group and International Album, for 'Sam's Town', and also performed their hit single 'When You Were Young' on the night. As they collected the first of their two accolades singer Brandon Flowers thanked Britain for "taking us into your hearts and making us one of your own".

Take That capped off their incredible comeback by winning British Single, the winner of which was voted for by the public on the evening. The foursome, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald, delivered a sensational snub to their former bandmate Robbie Williams - who checked himself into rehab this week to be treated for an addiction to prescription drugs - by not sending him a get well message in their acceptance speech. Instead, Gary thanked the group's fans, saying: "Thank you everyone. It's amazing, just completely unbelievable." In an emotional moment, Jason said: "The first time Take That happened I cut my dad out of the picture, for whatever reason, but he's here tonight. Dad, I love you."

Oasis received the Outstanding Contribution To Music award - presented to them by host Russell Brand - with brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher accepting the prestigious accolade with foul-mouthed thank-you speeches. Liam said: "Seeing as we don't get nominated for this s**t anymore I suppose this will have to do." Noel added: "We'd like to thank everyone who has bought our records. It's been a f***ing pleasure."

The rock 'n' roll siblings and their bandmates - guitarist Gem Archer, bass player Andy Bell and drummer Zak Starkey - then took to the stage to close the star-studded show, held at London's Earls Court. They opened with an incendiary performance of 'Cigarettes and Alcohol', before immediately launching into 'Meaning of Soul' which was followed by 'Morning Glory'. With the crowd going wild they finished with their classic number one hit 'Don't Look Back In Anger', sung by Noel, before Liam returned to the stage for a blistering rendition of 'Rock 'n' Roll Star' - taken from their debut 1994 album 'Definitely Maybe'.

Other winners on the night included Amy Winehouse - who earlier had performed her hit single 'Rehab' - who was named British Female, James Morrison who walked away with British Male and Muse, who beat Robbie to British Live Act. Despite being nominated for three awards, British Female, British Breakthrough and MasterCard British Album, Lily Allen went away empty-handed.

BRIT Awards 2007 complete list of winners:

British Male Solo Artist: James Morrison

British female solo artist Amy Winehouse

British Album: Arctic Monkeys - 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'

British Group: Arctic Monkeys

British Breakthrough Act (chosen by BBC Radio 1 listeners): The Fratellis

International Breakthrough Act: Orson

British Live Act: Muse

British Single: Winner: Take That - Patience (Decided by live public vote on the night)

International Male Solo Artist: Justin Timberlake

International Female Solo Artist: Nelly Furtado

International Group: The Killers

International Album: The Killers - 'Sam's Town'

Outstanding Contribution To Music: Oasis