Arctic Monkeys & Foo Fighters Take Honours at the Brits

• 21st Feb 2008

Arctic Monkeys and Foo Fighters shared the honours at last night’s Brit Awards.

The bands picked up two awards each at the ceremony held in Earls Court in London.

Arctic Monkeys’ repeated their 2007 record picking up Best British Band and the evening’s big prize, Best British Album again.

It was the first time the band had ever attended the ceremony, despite winning awards for the past two years, and they certainly made an impression on their debut with all four Arctic Monkeys donning tweeds and flat caps to drunkenly pick up their awards.

Take That caused an early upset, beating the likes of Muse to Best Live Act before winning Best Single, which was decided by a public phone vote on the night.

Though they could not attend the ceremony due to US touring commitments, Foo Fighters made it a clean sweep in their international categories, winning the Best Band and Best Album awards.

The threatened “pop takeover” predicted by many music industry commentators did not happen – X Factor winner Leona Lewis surprising won nothing despite four nominations – but pop acts were successful with Kylie Minogue and Mika both winning.

Kate Nash, Kanye West and Mark Ronson were also celebrating.

Hosted by the Osbourne family – Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly and Jack – the ceremony boasted several notable collaborations, though it was Klaxons and Rihanna who stole the show.

Bathed in lasers and playing beneath a Pink Floyd-esque pyramid, the acts teamed-up to perform a version of Rihanna’s ’Umbrella’ which mixed in elements of Klaxons’ ’Golden Skans’.

Mika meanwhile was joined by The Gossip’s Beth Ditto to open the show, while Mark Ronson called upon Adele, Daniel Merriweather and Amy Winehouse for his medley – the latter making her first public appearance since entering rehab.

The London singer played Zutons cover ’Valerie’ with Ronson before she returned for a solo performance of her own ’Love Is A Losing Game’ which she dedicated to her currently incarcerated husband Blake Civil Fielder, telling the crowd to “Make some noise for my husband. My Blake.”

Paul McCartney rounded off the night picking up his Outstanding Contribution To Music Award before playing a five song set of ‘Dance Tonight’, ‘Live And Let Die’, ‘Hey Jude’, 'Lady Madonna' and 'Get Back'.

Here is the full list of winners at this year's Brit Awards;

British Male Solo Artist
Mark Ronson

British Female Solo Artist
Kate Nash

British Group
Arctic Monkeys

British Album
Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare

British Breakthrough Act
Mika

British Live Act
Take That

British Single
Take That – 'Shine'

International Male Solo Artist
Kanye West

International Female Solo Artist
Kylie Minogue

International Group
Foo Fighters

International Album
Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace

Critics' Choice Award
Adele

Outstanding Contribution Award
Sir Paul McCartney