Paul McCartney Triumphed at Q Awards as 'Icon'

Mon, 08 October 2007 12:00:00 ET

Paul McCartney, Kylie Minogue and Arctic Monkeys earned the highest titles in the prestigious British music event, Q Awards this year.

Sir Paul McCartney, Kylie Minogue and Arctic Monkeys were the big winners at this year's Q Awards yesterday (08.10.07). The Beatles legend received The Q Icon award, Kylie took The Q Idol accolade and Arctic Monkeys claimed the prestigious Best Act In The World Today prize at the glitzy ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

Paul notably failed to mention his estranged wife Heather Mills in his lengthy acceptance speech, in which he thanked his former Beatles bandmates, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, and his late wife Linda McCartney.

He said: "I've been coming to these things for a long time and you sit there petrified, not knowing what to say, should you tell a couple of dirty jokes? I would like to thank George, John and Ringo, the boys. I would like to thank Linda for seeing me though some real tough periods, and my beautiful family, my kids, who are fantastic."

The 65-year-old singer was presented the award by a visibly drunk Damon Albarn, who earlier bemused the star-studded audience with a rambling speech when he collected The Q Inspiration Award.

Other winners included Amy Winehouse who won Best Album for her LP 'Back to Black', The Enemy who were voted Best New Act and Kate Nash who collected the Breakthrough Artist award. Muse took home Best Live Act, while Manic Street Preachers won Best Track for 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough' and Kaiser Chiefs claimed Best Video for 'Ruby'.

All the 'Best' categories, plus Breakthrough Artist, were voted for by readers of Q and Q4Music.com, with Best Video also voted for by Q TV viewers, while the remaining 11 winners were chosen by the music magazine.

Host Jonathan Ross - who has presented the awards for a number of years - continued his tradition of rock-star baiting by attacking a host of stars including Robbie Williams and Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding. When introducing the winner of The Q Hero award, which went to the late record label boss Tony Wilson, he said: "I thought this was going to be given to someone with a superhero power, like Robbie Williams being invisible in America, but no!" The Who. It was great to see the pair back together again, like Sarah Harding's legs."

Q Awards 2007 - full list of winners

Best New Act sponsored by Myspace.com: The Enemy
Best Track sponsored by Sony Ericsson: Manic Street Preachers - 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough'
Breakthrough Artist sponsored by Ben Sherman: Kate Nash
Best Video sponsored by O2: Kaiser Chiefs - 'Ruby'
Q Classic Song: Stereophonics - 'Local Boy In The Photograph'
Q Classic Album: The Verve - 'Urban Hymns'
Q Innovation in Sound sponsored by Aloud.com: Sigur R�s
Q Lifetime Achievement sponsored by Malmaison: Johnny Marr
The Q Merit Award: Ryan Adams
The Q Hero: Anthony H. Wilson
Best Album sponsored by Play.com: Amy Winehouse - 'Back to Black'
Best Live Act sponsored by Marshall Amplification: Muse
The Q Legend: Ian Brown
Q Classic Songwriter: Billy Bragg
The Q Inspiration Award sponsored by Orange Amplification: Damon Albarn
Best Act In The World Today: Arctic Monkeys
The Q Idol: Kylie Minogue
The Q Icon: Sir Paul McCartney