NME Award Winners 1994-2018 (Part Two)

Let’s now complete our summary of the NME Awards, with all the winners in one single, easy-to-digest place. So, as an extension of part two of the NME Poll Winners 1952-1992, here’s the final part!

Best Newcomer

Continuing the list that saw Cliff Richard and The Stone Roses share the limelight previously, these are the more recent newcomers.

Best New Artist

• 1994 – Elastica (Best New Band), Credit to the Nation (Best New Solo Act)
• 1995 – Oasis
• 1996 – Supergrass
• 1997 – Kula Shaker
• 1998 – Embrace
• 1999 – Gomez
• 2000 – Muse
• 2001 – Coldplay
• 2002 – The Strokes
• 2003 – The Libertines
• 2004 – Kings of Leon
• 2005 – Razorlight
• 2006 – Arctic Monkeys
• 2007 – Klaxons
• 2008 – The Enemy
• 2009 – MGMT
• 2010 – Bombay Bicycle Club
• 2011 – Hurts
• 2012 – The Vaccines
• 2013 – Palma Violets
• 2014 – Drenge
• 2015 – Royal Blood
• 2016 – Rat Boy
• 2017 – Dua Lipa
• 2018 – Stefflon Don

Philip Hall Under the Radar Award

• 1995 – Gene
• 1996 – Rocket from the Crypt
• 1997 – Super Furry Animals
• 2000 – Terris
• 2001 – Starsailor
• 2002 – The Coral
• 2003 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• 2005 – Kaiser Chiefs
• 2006 – The Long Blondes
• 2007 – The Twang
• 2008 – Glasvegas
• 2009 – The Big Pink
• 2010 – The Drums
• 2011 – The Naked and Famous
• 2012 – The Child of Lov
• 2014 – Fat White Family
• 2018 – Pale Waves

Best Live Music Categories

Most award ceremonies now seem to recognise live music, but the NME Awards have been doing it since way back in the early 1990s.

Best Live Act

• 1995 – Blur
• 1996 – Oasis (Best Live Act), Pulp (NME Live Act of the Year)
• 1997 – Manic Street Preachers
• 2000 – Super Furry Animals (Best Live Act), Mogwai (NME Live Act of the Year)
• 2001 – Moby
• 2002 – U2
• 2003 – The Datsuns
• 2004 – Queens of the Stone Age
• 2005 – Muse
• 2006 – Franz Ferdinand
• 2007 – Kasabian
• 2008 – Muse
• 2009 – Muse
• 2010 – Arctic Monkeys
• 2011 – Biffy Clyro
• 2012 – Arctic Monkeys
• 2013 – The Rolling Stones
• 2014 – Arctic Monkeys
• 2015 – Royal Blood
• 2016 – Wolf Alice
• 2017 – The 1975
• 2018 – Kasabian

Best Festival Headliner

• 2017 – Adele
• 2018 – Muse

Best Live Event

• 1994 – Megadog
• 1995 – Orbital at Glastonbury Festival
• 1996 – Glastonbury Festival
• 1997 – Oasis at Knebworth (Best Musical Event)
• 1998 – Glastonbury Festival (Best Musical Event)
• 1999 – Glastonbury Festival (Best Musical Event)
• 2000 – Glastonbury Festival (Best Musical Event)
• 2001 – Carling Weekend – Reading and Leeds (Best Musical Event)
• 2002 – Ozzfest (Best Musical Event)
• 2003 – Carling Weekend – Reading and Leeds (Best Musical Event)
• 2005 – Glastonbury Festival
• 2006 – Carling Weekend – Reading and Leeds (Best Musical Event)
• 2007 – Carling Weekend – Reading and Leeds
• 2008 – Carling Weekend – Reading and Leeds
• 2009 – Glastonbury Festival
• 2010 – Blur at Hyde Park

Best Festival

• 2010 – Glastonbury Festival
• 2011 – Glastonbury Festival
• 2012 – Glastonbury Festival
• 2013 – Carling Weekend – Reading and Leeds
• 2014 – Glastonbury Festival
• 2015 – Glastonbury Festival
• 2016 – Glastonbury Festival
• 2017 – Glastonbury Festival
• 2018 – Glastonbury Festival

Best Small Festival

• 2011 – RockNess
• 2012 – RockNess
• 2013 – Festival No. 6
• 2014 – Sŵn
• 2015 – Liverpool Psych Fest
• 2016 – End of the Road
• 2017 – End of the Road
• 2018 – Festival No. 6

Radio Session of the Year

• 1997 – Suede (Radio 1 Evening Session of the Year)
• 1998 – Radiohead (Radio 1 Evening Session of the Year)
• 1999 – Junior Carter (Breezeblock Mix of the Year)
• 2000 – Supergrass (Radio 1 Session of the Year), Ooberman (Best NME Premier Show Performance)
• 2001 – Coldplay (Radio 1 Session of the Year)
• 2002 – The Charlatans (Radio 1 Session of the Year)

Best Club / Live Venue

• 1994 – The Forum
• 1995 – Brixton Academy
• 1996 – Brixton Academy
• 1997 – Brixton Academy
• 1998 – Brixton Academy
• 1999 – Brixton Academy
• 2000 – Brixton Academy
• 2001 – Cream
• 2003 – London Astoria
• 2004 – Brixton Academy
• 2005 – Brixton Academy
• 2006 – Brixton Academy
• 2007 – Brixton Academy
• 2008 – Wembley Stadium

Tour Award

• 2001 – Amen / JJ72 / Alfie
• 2002 – Lostprophets / Andrew WK / The Coral

Genre-Specific Artist Categories

These are just a selection of the artist categories that relate to a particular genre of music.

Best Dance Act

• 1994 – Orbital
• 1996 – The Prodigy (Best Dance Act), Goldie (Vibes Award for Best Dance Act)
• 1997 – The Prodigy (Best Dance Act), Orbital (Vibes Award for Best Dance Act)
• 1998 – The Prodigy
• 1999 – Fatboy Slim
• 2000 – The Chemical Brothers (Best Dance Act), Death in Vegas (On the Decks Award for Best Dance Act)
• 2001 – Fatboy Slim
• 2002 – Basement Jaxx

Best Hip Hop / Rap Act

• 1994 – Cypress Hill
• 1995 – Warren G
• 2001 – Eminem
• 2002 – Missy Elliott

Best Metal Act

• 2001 – Marilyn Manson
• 2002 – Lostprophets

Best Rock Act

• 2001 – U2

Best Pop Act

• 2001 – All Saints
• 2002 – Kylie Minogue

Best R&B / SOUL Act

• 2001 – Kelis
• 2002 – Aaliyah

One-off awards

There are a whole load of odd, eclectic, and occasionally wonderful one-off awards. Here are all the ones I could find.

One-off Awards

• 1996 – Special Award for Services Beyond the Call of Duty – Tony Crean
• 1999 – Brain That Should Be Kept Alive for Posterity – Nicky Wire
• 1999 – Would Make the Best Drugs Czar – Shaun Ryder
• 1999 – Would To See On A Blind Date – Marilyn Manson and Billie Piper
• 1999 – Would Most Like as Your Doctor – Natalie Imbruglia
• 1999 – Would Most Like to Go Shopping with – Brian Molko
• 1999 – Would Most Like to Cook You a Meal – Tiny Woods
• 1999 – Would Most Like to Be Marooned on a Desert Island with – Louise
• 1999 – Would Most Like as Prime Minister – Nicky Wire
• 1999 – Most Like as Your Driving Instructor – Jay Kay
• 1999 – Most Like to See in a Ring with Mike Tyson – Billie Piper
• 2004 – Fight of the Year – Jack White vs. Jason von Bondie
• 2004 – Living Legend – Arthur Lee
• 2004 – Most Missed – Johnny Cash
• 2005 – Special Award for Lifelong Service to Music – John Peel
• 2010 – Giving it Back Fan Award – Lily Allen
• 2014 – Songwriters’ Songwriter – Paul McCartney
• 2016 – Best Actor – Idris Elba
• 2016 – Best Actress – Vicky McClure
• 2016 – Vlogger of the Year – KSI

Best Solo Artist

In earlier decades, this award had been split pretty arbitrarily, and this continues. I’ve grouped these into British and International, since this is what they are currently going with, but we’re actually looking at about six different award categories here.

Best British Solo Artist

• 1995 – Paul Weller (Best Solo Artist)
• 1996 – Paul Weller (Best Solo Artist)
• 1999 – Robbie Williams (Best Solo Artist)
• 2001 – Badly Drawn Boy (Best Solo Artist)
• 2002 – Ian Brown (Best Solo Artist)
• 2005 – Graham Coxon (Best Solo Artist)
• 2007 – Jamie T (Best Solo Artist)
• 2008 – Kate Nash (Best Solo Artist)
• 2009 – Pete Doherty (Best Solo Artist)
• 2010 – Jamie T (Best Solo Artist)
• 2011 – Laura Marling (Best Solo Artist)
• 2012 – Florence + the Machine (Best Solo Artist)
• 2013 – Florence + the Machine (Best Solo Artist)
• 2014 – Lily Allen (Best Solo Artist)
• 2015 – Jake Bugg (Best Solo Artist)
• 2016 – Charlie XCX
• 2017 – M.I.A. (Female), Skepta (Male)
• 2018 – Loyle Carner

Best International Solo Artist

• 1994 – Björk (Best Solo Artist)
• 1997, 1998, 2000 – Beck (Best Solo Artist)
• 2003-2004 – Ryan Adams (Best Solo Artist)
• 2006 – Kanye West (Best Solo Artist)
• 2016 – Taylor Swift
• 2017 – Christine and the Queens (Female), Frank Ocean (Male)
• 2018 – Lorde

Best DJ

• 2000 – Fatboy Slim
• 2001 – Carl Cox

Best Group

Next, here are the categories for best group – of which there are still many.

Best British Band

• 1994 – Suede (Best Band)
• 1995 – Blur (Best Band)
• 1996-1997 – Oasis (Best Band)
• 1998 – The Verve (Best Band)
• 1999 – Manic Street Preachers (Best Band)
• 2000 – Blur (Best Band), Travis (NME Band of the Year)
• 2001 – Radiohead (Best Band)
• 2003 – Oasis (Best British Band and NME Band of the Year)
• 2004-2005 – The Libertines
• 2006 – Arctic Monkeys
• 2007 – Muse
• 2008 – Arctic Monkeys
• 2009 – Oasis
• 2010-2011 – Muse
• 2012 – Kasabian
• 2013 – Biffy Clyro
• 2014 – Arctic Monkeys
• 2015 – Kasabian
• 2016 – The Maccabees
• 2017 – Biffy Clyro
• 2018 – Alt-J

Best International Band

• 2002 – The Strokes (Best Band)
• 2003 – The Hives
• 2004 – Kings of Leon
• 2005 – The Killers
• 2006 – The Strokes
• 2007 – My Chemical Romance
• 2008-2009 – The Killers
• 2010 – Paramore
• 2011 – My Chemical Romance
• 2012 – Foo Fighters
• 2013 – The Killers
• 2014 – Haim
• 2015 – Foo Fighters
• 2016 – Run the Jewels
• 2017 – Metallica
• 2018 – Haim

Best Band Ever

• 2000 – The Beatles

Worst Band

• 1997 – Oasis
• 2003 – Nickelback
• 2005 – Insane Clown Posse
• 2006 – Son of Dork
• 2007 – Panic! At the Disco
• 2008 – The Hoosiers
• 2009-2011 – Jonas Brothers
• 2012-2013 – One Direction
• 2014 – The 1975
• 2015-2017 – 5 Seconds of Summer

Best Collaboration

• 2018 – Craig David and Bastille

Most Dedicated Fans / Best Fan Community

• 2012-2013 – Muse
• 2014 – Arctic Monkeys
• 2015 – Muse
• 2016 – The Libertines

Best of All Time Awards

Finally, NME introduced the Godlike Genius Award in 1994, and have therefore followed with a suite of “best of all time” awards.

Godlike Genius Award

• 1994 – John Peel
• 1995 – Alan McGee
• 1996 – Michael Eavis
• 1997 – Mark E. Smith
• 1999 – Massive Attack
• 2000 – Shaun Ryder
• 2001 – U2
• 2002 – Nick Kent and Pennie Smith
• 2005 – New Order and Joy Division
• 2006 – Ian Brown
• 2007 – Primal Scream
• 2008 – Manic Street Preachers
• 2009 – The Cure
• 2010 – Paul Weller
• 2011 – Dave Grohl
• 2012 – Noel Gallagher
• 2013 – Johnny Marr
• 2014 – Blondie
• 2015 – Suede
• 2016 – Coldplay
• 2017 – Pet Shop Boys
• 2018 – Liam Gallagher

Outstanding Contribution to Music

• 2002 – The Charlatans
• 2009 – Elbow
• 2010 – The Specials
• 2011 – PJ Harvey
• 2012 – Pulp
• 2013 – The Cribs
• 2014 – Belle and Sebastian
• 2017 – WIley

The Fuck Me! / John Peel Award for Innovation / NME Innovation Award

• 2003 – The Polyphonic Spree
• 2004 – Dizzee Rascal
• 2005 – The Others
• 2006 – Gorillaz
• 2007 – Enter Shikari
• 2008 – Radiohead
• 2011 – Crystal Castles
• 2014 – Damon Albarn
• 2018 – Boy Better Know

NME Icon

• 2018 – Shirley Manson

And that concludes the results of the NME Polls and Awards, from 1954 to 2018. Join us in 2019 for another new ceremony!

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NME Award Winners 1994-2018 (Part One)

The final step we need to take with the NME Awards is to summarise all the winners in one single, easy-to-digest place. So, continuing with the part one of two-part NME Poll Winners 1952-1992, let’s do that!

Best and Worst Single, Video and Album Categories

Here are all the winners for specific singles, videos, albums, films, and books!

Best Single / Track

• 1994 – Radiohead – Creep
• 1995 – Oasis – Live Forever (Best Single), Blur – Girls and Boys (NME Single of the Year)
• 1996 – Oasis – Wonderwall (Best Single), Black Grape – Reverend Black Grape (NME Single of the Year)
• 1997 – Manic Street Preachers – A Design for Life (Best Single), Underworld – Born Slippy (NME Single of the Year)
• 1998 – The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony
• 1999 – Manic Street Preachers – If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
• 2000 – Blur – Tender (Best Single), Aphex Twin – Windowlicker (NME Single of the Year)
• 2001 – Coldplay – Yellow
• 2002 – Ash – Burn Baby Burn
• 2003 – The Vines – Get Free (Best Single), Doves – There Goes the Fear (NME Single of the Year)
• 2004 – The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
• 2005 – Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
• 2006 – Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
• 2007 – The View – Wasted Little DJs
• 2008 – Arctic Monkeys – Fluorescent Adolescent
• 2009 – MGMT – Time to Pretend
• 2010 – The Big Pink – Dominos
• 2011 – Foals – Spanish Sahara
• 2012 – Florence + the Machine – Shake it Out
• 2013 – Foals – Inhaler
• 2014 – Disclosure – White Noise
• 2015 – Jamie T – Zombie
• 2016 – Wolf Alice – Giant Peach
• 2017 – Christine and the Queens – Tilted
• 2018 – Charli XCX – Boys

Best Single Ever

• 2000 – Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit

Best Dance Single / Dancefloor filler / Anthem

• 1998 – The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up
• 1999 – Fatboy Slim – The Rockafeller Skank
• 2008 – The Wombats – Let’s Dance to Joy Division
• 2009 – Dizzee Rascal and Calvin Harris – Dance Wiv Me
• 2010 – La Roux – In for the Kill (Skream Remix)
• 2011 – Professor Green – Jungle
• 2012 – Katy B – Broken Record
• 2013 – Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch – Sweet Nothing
• 2015 – Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX – Fancy

Worst Single

• 1994 – Meat Loaf – I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)
• 1995 – Whigfield – Saturday Night
• 1996 – Robson Green and Jerome Flynn – I Believe
• 1997 – Spice Girls – Wannabe
• 1998 – Aqua – Barbie Girl
• 1999 – Billie Piper – Because We Want To
• 2000 – The Vengaboys – We’re Going to Ibiza
• 2003 – Robbie Williams – Feel
• 2004 – Fast Food Rockers – Fast Food Song

Best Music Video

• 1995 – Blur – Parklife
• 1996 – Pulp – Common People
• 1997 – The Prodigy – Firestarter
• 1998 – The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony
• 1999 – Manic Street Preachers – If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
• 2000 – Blur – Coffee and TV
• 2002 – Radiohead – Pyramid Song
• 2003 – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Whatever Happened to My Rock and Roll (Punk Song)
• 2004 – Radiohead – There There
• 2005 – Green Day – American Idiot
• 2006 – Oasis – The Importance of Being Idle
• 2007 – The Killers – Bones
• 2008 – Arctic Monkeys – Teddy Picker
• 2009 – The Last Shadow Puppets – My Mistakes Were Made for You
• 2010 – Biffy Clyro – The Captain
• 2011 – My Chemical Romance – Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)
• 2012 – Hurts – Sunday
• 2013 – Arctic Monkeys – R U Mine?
• 2014 – Eagulls – Nerve Endings
• 2015 – Jamie T – Zombie
• 2016 – Slaves – Cheer Up London
• 2017 – Slaves – Consume or Be Consumed
• 2018 – The Big Moon – Sucker

Best Album / LP

• 1994 – The Boo Radleys – Giant Steps
• 1995 – Blur – Parklife (Best Album), Oasis – Definitely Maybe (NME Album of the Year)
• 1996 – Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (Best Album), Tricky – Maxinquaye (NME Album of the Year)
• 1997 – Manic Street Preachers – Everything Must Go (Best Album), Beck – Odelay (NME Album of the Year)
• 1998 – Radiohead – OK Computer
• 1999 – Manic Street Preachers – This is My Truth, Tell Me Yours
• 2000 – The Flaming Lips – The Soft Bulletin (Best Album and NME Album of the Year)
• 2001 – Primal Scream – XTRMNTR
• 2002 – The Strokes – This is It
• 2003 – Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head (Best Album and NME Album of the Year)
• 2004 – Radiohead – Hail to the Thief
• 2005 – Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand
• 2006 – Kaiser Chiefs – Employment
• 2007 – Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
• 2008 – Klaxons – Myths of the Near Future
• 2009 – Kings of Leon – Only by the Night
• 2010 – Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
• 2011 – Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
• 2012 – The Horrors – Skying
• 2013 – The Maccabees – Given to the Wild
• 2014 – Arctic Monkeys – AM
• 2015 – Kasabian – 48:13
• 2016 – Foals – What Went Down
• 2017 – Bastille – Wild World
• 2018 – J Hus – Common Sense

Best Album Ever

• 2000 – The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses

Worst Album

• 2003 – Robbie Williams – Escapology
• 2005 – Insane Clown Posse – Carnival of Carnage
• 2006 – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam
• 2007 – Robbie Williams – Rudebox
• 2008 – Britney Spears – Blackout
• 2009 – Jonas Brothers – A Little Bit Longer
• 2010 – Jonas Brothers – Lines, Vines, and Trying Times
• 2011 – Justin Bieber – My World
• 2012 – Justin Bieber – Under the Mistletoe

Best Album Artwork

• 2004 – Radiohead – Hail to the Thief
• 2008 – The Good, The Bad & The Queen – The Good, The Bad & The Queen
• 2009 – Muse – HAARP
• 2010 – Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
• 2011 – Klaxons – Surfing the Void
• 2012 – Friendly Fires – Pala

Best Reissue

• 2012 – The Smiths – The Complete Re-issues
• 2013 – Blur – 21
• 2014 – The Clash – Sound System
• 2015 – Manic Street Preachers – The Holy Bible
• 2016 – David Bowie – Five Years (1969-1973)
• 2017 – Oasis – Be Here Now
• 2018 – Radiohead – OK NOT OK

Best DVD / Best Music DVD / Best Music Film

• 2005 – Oasis – Definitely Maybe
• 2006 – Various Artists – Live 8
• 2007 – Arctic Monkeys – Scrummy Man
• 2008 – Nirvana – MTV Unplugged in New York
• 2009 – Arctic Monkeys – Live at the Apollo
• 2010 – The Mighty Boosh Live – Future Sailors Tour
• 2012 – Foo Fighters – Back and Forth
• 2013 – The Rolling Stones – Crossfire Hurricane
• 2014 – The Stone Roses – Made of Stone
• 2015 – Pulp – A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets
• 2016 – Blur – New World Towers
• 2017 – Oasis – Supersonic
• 2018 – Lady Gaga – Five Foot Two

Best Mixtape

• 2018 – Avelino – No Bullshit

Best Book

• 2011 – John Lydon – Mr. Rotten’s Scrapbook
• 2012 – Noel Fielding – The Scribblings of a Madcap Shambleton
• 2013 – Mike Skinner – The Story of the Streets
• 2014 – Morrissey – Autobiography
• 2015 – Viv Albertine – Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys
• 2016 – Patti Smith – M Train
• 2017 – Johnny Marr – Set the Boy Free
• 2018 – Wiley – Eskiboy

Media Categories

The group of media awards, for radio, TV, films, and venues.

Best Radio Show

• 1994 – John Peel (BBC Radio 1)
• 1996-1997 – The Evening Session (BBC Radio 1)
• 1998-1999 – Mark and Lard (BBC Radio 1)
• 2000-2002 – The Evening Session (BBC Radio 1)
• 2003 – The Evening Session / Lamacq Live (BBC Radio 1)
• 2005-2008 – Zane Lowe (BBC Radio 1)

Best TV Show

• 1995 – Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge
• 1996-1998 – Shooting Stars
• 1999 – South Park
• 2000 – The Royle Family
• 2001 – The League of Gentlemen
• 2002 – The Office
• 2003 – The Osbournes
• 2004 – The Office
• 2005 – Little Britain
• 2006 – Gonzo
• 2007-2009 – The Mighty Boosh
• 2010 – The Inbetweeners
• 2011 – Skins
• 2012-2013 – Fresh Meat
• 2014 – Breaking Bad
• 2015 – Game of Thrones
• 2016 – This is England ’90
• 2017 – Fleabag
• 2018 – Stranger Things

Worst TV Show

• 2009 – Big Brother

Best Film

• 1994 – Reservoir Dogs
• 1995 – Pulp Fiction
• 1996 – The Usual Suspects
• 1997 – Trainspotting
• 1998 – The Full Monty
• 1999 – Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
• 2000 – The Blair Witch Project
• 2001 – Gladiator
• 2002 – Moulin Rouge
• 2004 – The Lord of the Rings – The Return of the King
• 2005 – Shaun of the Dead
• 2006 – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• 2007 – Pirates of the Caribbean – Dead Man’s Chest
• 2008 – Control
• 2010 – Inglourious Basterds
• 2011 – Inception
• 2012 – Submarine
• 2013 – The Hobbit – An Unexpected Journey
• 2015 – Northern Soul
• 2016 – Beasts of No Nation
• 2017 – My Scientology Movie
• 2018 – Baby Driver

Best Website

• 2000 – NME
• 2003 – NME
• 2004 – NME
• 2005 – NME
• 2006 – NME
• 2007 – YouTube
• 2008 – Facebook
• 2009 – YouTube
• 2010 – Muse

Best Band Blog / Twitter / Social Media

• 2008 – The Modern Age (Best Music Blog), Radiohead (Best Band Blog)
• 2009 – Noel Gallagher / Oasis
• 2010 – Radiohead
• 2011 – Hayley Williams
• 2012 – Lady Gaga
• 2013 – Alana Haim
• 2014 – Alana Haim
• 2015 – Liam Gallagher

People Categories

Continuing the odd and eclectic categories from 1954-1992, the NME Awards still give slightly odd awards out to individuals.

Genius/HERO of the Year

• 2000 – Ali G
• 2001 – Liam Gallagher
• 2003 – Ozzy Osbourne
• 2004 – Pete Doherty
• 2005 – John Peel
• 2006 – Bob Geldof
• 2007 – Gerard Way
• 2008 – Pete Doherty
• 2009 – Barack Obama
• 2010 – Rage Against the Machine
• 2011 – Lady Gaga
• 2012 – Matt Bellamy
• 2013 – Barack Obama
• 2014-2015 – Alex Turner
• 2016 – Dave Grohl
• 2017 – Beyoncé
• 2018 – Ariana Grande

Bastard/Git/Arse/Dickhead/Waster/Villain of the Year

• 1994 – John Major
• 1996 – Damon Albarn
• 1997-1999 – Liam Gallagher
• 2000, 2001, 2003 – Robbie Williams
• 2004 – George W. Bush, (Villain of the Year), Pete Doherty (Waster of the Year)
• 2005-2009 – George W. Bush
• 2010 – Kanye West
• 2011 – David Cameron
• 2012 – Justin Bieber
• 2013-2014 – Harry Styles
• 2015 – Nigel Farage
• 2016 – Donald Trump
• 2017 – Nigel Farage
• 2018 – Piers Morgan

Best Dressed / Most Stylish

• 1996 – Jarvis Cocker
• 2003 – The Hives
• 2005 – Brandon Flowers
• 2006 – Ricky Wilson
• 2007 – Faris Rotter
• 2008 – Noel Fielding
• 2009 – Alexa Chung
• 2010 – Lady Gaga
• 2011 – Brandon Flowers

Worst Dressed / Least Stylish

• 1996 – Jarvis Cocker
• 1997 – Liam Gallagher
• 2003 – Christina Aguilera
• 2005 – Jonathan Ross
• 2006 – Justin Hawkins
• 2007 – Jonathan Ross
• 2008-2009 – Amy Winehouse
• 2010 – Lady Gaga
• 2011 – Justin Bieber

Best Comedian

• 1995-1996 – Steve Coogan

Political and Real World Categories

Continuing some of the odder categories from the earlier NME Polls. For clarity, I’ve separated the “live” events from the other “musical” events, although I think the award category was sometimes the same.

Musical Moment / Event of the Year

• 1996 – Skinner, Baddiel and The Lightning Seeds – Three Lions
• 2012 – The Stone Roses reunite
• 2013 – Olympics opening ceremony
• 2014 – Noel Gallagher and Damon Albarn come together for Teenage Cancer Trust
• 2015 – Jamie T’s comeback
• 2016 – The Libertines’ secret Glastonbury set
• 2017 – Coldplay’s Viola Beach tribute at Glastonbury
• 2018 – One Love Manchester

Greatest Musical Event Ever

• 2000 – Woodstock

Non-Musical Event of the Year

• 1994 – Unity March
• 1995 – Glastonbury Festival
• 1996 – French Nuclear Testing

Bummer / Disappointment

• 1995 – Kurt Cobain’s Suicide
• 1997 – The Stone Roses breaking up

Hype of the Year

• 1994 – Jurassic Park

Object of Desire / Most Desirable / Hottest / Sexiest Woman

• 1994 – Björk (Object of Desire)
• 1995 – Kylie Minogue (Object of Desire)
• 1997 – Louise (Most Desirable Human Being)
• 1998 – Louise (Most Desirable Human Being)
• 1999 – Natalie Imbruglia (Most Desirable Human Being)
• 2003 – Avril Lavigne
• 2004 – Brody Dalle
• 2005 – Barbara Knox
• 2006 – Madonna
• 2007 – Kate Moss
• 2008 – Kylie Minogue
• 2009 – Hayley Williams
• 2010 – Karen O
• 2011 – Alison Mosshart
• 2012 – Hayley Williams
• 2013 – Amy Lee

Most Desirable / Hottest / Sexiest Man

• 1996 – Liam Gallagher (Most Desirable Human Being)
• 2003 – Chris Martin
• 2004 – Har Mar Superstar
• 2005 – Brandon Flowers
• 2006 – Pete Doherty
• 2007 – Matt Bellamy
• 2008 – Noel Fielding
• 2009-2011 – Matt Bellamy
• 2012 – Jared Leto
• 2013 – Matt Bellamy

Best Haircut

• 2003 – Liam Gallagher
• 2004 – Caleb Followill

Worst Haircut

• 2003 – Jack Osbourne

Join us again next week, when we’ll finish this list off!

NME Awards – 2015-2017

Finally, by the current decade, NME seemed to have regained their taste. Several decades after being obsessed with guitars and the lower reaches of the charts, they finally even decided to associate themselves with acts such as Pet Shop Boys. Let’s complete our journey through the history of their awards, with the last few years.

NME Awards 2015

• Godlike Genius Award: Suede
• Best British Band: Kasabian. Also nominated: Alt-J, Arctic Monkeys, Chvrches, Royal Blood, The Libertines
• Best Album: Kasabian, for 48:13
• Also nominated: Jamie T, for Carry On The Grudge, La Roux, for Trouble In Paradise, Royal Blood, for Royal Blood, Run The Jewels, for Run The Jewels 2, St Vincent, for St Vincent
• Best International Band: Foo Fighters. Also nominated: Arcade Fire, Haim, Interpol, Queens Of The Stone Age, Tame Impala
• Best Live Band: Royal Blood. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, Fat White Family, Foo Fighters, Kasabian, The Libertines
• Best New Band: Royal Blood. Also nominated: Circa Waves, FKA Twigs, Jungle, Slaves, Superfood
• Best Solo Artist: Jake Bugg. Also nominated: Jack White, Jamie T, La Roux, Lana Del Rey, St Vincent
• Best Festival: Glastonbury. Also nominated: Bestival, Isle Of Wight Festival, Latitude, Reading & Leeds, T In The Park
• Best Track: Jamie T, for Zombie. Also nominated: Future Islands, for Seasons (Waiting On You), Jungle, for Busy Earnin, Kasabian, for Eez-Eh, Noel Gallagher, for In The Heat Of The Moment, Royal Blood, for Little Monster
• Best Video: Jamie T, for Zombie. Also nominated: Fat White Family, for Touch The Leather, FKA Twigs, for Two Weeks, Jungle, for Busy Earnin’, Peace, for Lost On Me, Royal Blood, for Figure It Out
• Best Music Film: Pulp, for A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets. Also nominated: 20,000 Days On Earth, Finding Fela, Kasabian, for Summer Solstice, Supermensch: The Legend Of Shep Gordon, The Possibilities Are Endless
• Best Film: Northern Soul. Also nominated: Boyhood, Frank, Get On Up, God Help The Girl, The Inbetweeners 2
• Best TV Show: Game of Thrones. Also nominated: Girls, Foo Fighters, for Sonic Highways, Peaky Blinders, Sherlock, True Detective
• Best Dancefloor Filler: Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX, for Fancy. Also nominated: Jamie T, for Zombie, Kasabian, for Eez-Eh, Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars, for Uptown Funk, Metronomy, for Love Letters, SBTRKT feat. Ezra Koenig, for New Dorp. New York
• Worst Band: 5 Seconds of Summer. Also nominated: , Bastille, Blink 182, One Direction, The 1975, U2
• Villain of the Year: Nigel Farage. Also nominated: Bono, David Cameron, Harry Styles, Russell Brand, Taylor Swift
• Hero of the Year: Alex Turner. Also nominated: Dave Grohl, Kate Bush, Noel Gallagher, Russell Brand, Taylor Swift
• Music Moment of the Year: Jamie T‘s comeback. Also nominated: Alex Turner’s Brit Awards speech, Kasabian headline Glastonbury, Kate Bush returns, The Libertines reunite, Nirvana reunite at The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
• Best Fan Community: Muse. Also nominated: Jamie T, Kasabian, La Roux, Peace, Royal Blood
• Small Festival of the Year: Liverpool Psych Fest. Also nominated: End Of The Road, Festival No. 6, Field Day, The Great Escape, Tramlines
• Book of the Year: Viv Albertine, for Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys
• Also nominated: Bernard Sumner, for Chapter And Verse, Ian Curtis, Deborah Curtis and Jon Savage, for So This Is Permanence, Jesse Frohman, for Kurt Cobain: The Last Session, John Lydon, for Anger Is An Energy: My Life Uncensored, Steve Hanley, for The Big Midweek: Life Inside The Fall
• Reissue of the Year: Manic Street Preachers, for The Holy Bible. Also nominated: Led Zeppelin, for Led Zeppelin II, Oasis, for Definitely Maybe, Pixies, for Doolittle, Public Enemy, for It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, Smashing Pumpkins, for Adore
• Best Band Social Media: Liam Gallagher‘s Twitter. Also nominated: Questlove’s Twitter, Alana Haim’s Twitter, Albert Hammond Jr’s Twitter, Fat White Family’s Facebook, Slaves’ Facebook

NME Awards 2016

• Godlike Genius Award: Coldplay
• Best British Band: The Maccabees. Also nominated: The Libertines, Foals, Wolf Alice, The 1975, Catfish and the Bottlemen
• Best International Band: Run the Jewels. Also nominated: Tame Impala, Foo Fighters, The Strokes, The Killers, Alabama Shakes
• Best New Artist: Rat Boy. Also nominated: Hinds, Halsey, Yak, Låpsley, Formation
• Best British Solo Artist: Charli XCX. Also nominated: Adele, Noel Gallagher, Ed Sheeran, Florence Welch, Skepta
• Best International Solo Artist: Taylor Swift. Also nominated: Kendrick Lamar, Lana Del Rey, Courtney Barnett, Kanye West, Grimes
• Best Live Band: Wolf Alice. Also nominated: The Maccabees, The Libertines, Foals, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Royal Blood
• Best Album: Foals, for What Went Down. Also nominated: Wolf Alice, for My Love Is Cool, The Maccabees, for Marks to Prove it, Kendrick Lamar, for To Pimp a Butterfly, Tame Impala, for Currents, Grimes, for Art Angels
• Best Track: Wolf Alice, for Giant Peach. Also nominated: Coldplay, for Adventure of a Lifetime, The Libertines, for Gunga Din, The Weeknd, for I Can’t Feel My Face, Skepta, for Shut Down, Foals, for What Went Down
• Best TV Show: This is England ’90. Also nominated: The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, American Horror Story, Peep Show, Gogglebox
• Best Film: Beasts of No Nation. Also nominated: Ex Machina, Spectre, Mad Max: Fury Road, Whiplash, Kill Your Friends
• Best Music Film: Blur, for New World Towers. Also nominated: Amy, Montage of Heck, Straight Outta Compton, What Happened, Miss Simone, The Reflektor Tapes
• Best Music Video: Slaves, for Cheer Up London. Also nominated: Rihanna, for Bitch Better Have My Money, The Libertines, for Heart Of The Matter, Wolf Alice, for You’re a Germ, Blur, for Ong Ong, Tame Impala, for The Less I Know The Better
• Best Actor: Idris Elba. Also nominated: Tom Hardy, Eddie Redmayne, Nicholas Hoult, Stephen Graham, Daniel Radcliffe
• Best Actress: Vicky McClure. Also nominated: Jennifer Lawrence, Emilia Clarke, Gemma Chan, Amy Schumer, Saoirse Ronan
• Best Reissue: David Bowie, for Five Years (1969–1973). Also nominated: A Tribe Called Quest, for People’s Instinctive Travels And the Paths Of Rhythm, The Velvet Underground, for Loaded, Rolling Stones, for Sticky Fingers, Tori Amos, for Under The Pink, Faith No More, for Angel Dust
• Best Book: Patti Smith, for M Train. Also nominated: Grace Jones, for I’ll Never Write My Memoirs, Elvis Costello, for Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink, Carrie Brownstein, for Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl, Professor Green, for Lucky, Tom Jones, for Over The Top And Back
• Best Festival: Glastonbury. Also nominated: Reading & Leeds, V Festival, T in the Park, Bestival, Isle of Wight
• Best Small Festival: End of the Road. Also nominated: Sŵn, Festival No. 6, Green Man, Liverpool Sound City, Kendall Calling
• Music Moment of the Year: The Libertines‘ secret Glastonbury set. Also nominated: The return of Adele, Dave Grohl breaks leg and carries on, Florence + The Machine headlines Glastonbury, Kanye at The Brits, One Direction ‘split’
• Best Fan Community: The Libertines. Also nominated: Hurts, Muse, Catfish and the Bottleman, The 1975, Wolf Alice
• Worst Band: 5 Seconds of Summer. Also nominated: One Direction, Little Mix, Sleaford Mods, U2, Nickelback
• Villain of the Year: Donald Trump. Also nominated: David Cameron, Chris Moyles, Kanye West, George Osbourne, Simon Cowell
• Hero of the Year: Dave Grohl. Also nominated: Adele, Jeremy Corbyn, Florence Welch, Kanye West, Taylor Swift
• Vlogger of the Year: KSI. Also nominated: Vikkstar123, Charlie McDonnell, Joe Weller, Danisnotonfire, Savannah Brown

NME Awards 2017

• Godlike Genius Award: Pet Shop Boys
• Best British Band: Biffy Clyro. Also nominated: Wolf Alice, The 1975, Bastille, Years & Years, The Last Shadow Puppets
• Best International Band: Metallica. Also nominated: Tame Impala, Kings Of Leon, Green Day, A Tribe Called Quest, Tegan and Sara
• Best New Artist: Dua Lipa. Also nominated: Blossoms, Zara Larsson, Sunflower Bean, Christine and The Queens, Anderson .Paak
• Best British Female Artist: M.I.A.. Also nominated: Dua Lipa, Adele, Charli XCX, Kate Tempest, PJ Harvey
• Best British Male Artist: Skepta. Also nominated: Zayn Malik, Kano, Jamie T, Michael Kiwanuka, Richard Ashcroft
• Best International Female Artist: Christine and the Queens. Also nominated: Sia, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Solange, Tove Lo
• Best International Male Artist: Frank Ocean. Also nominated: Kanye West, Drake, The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, Chance The Rapper
• Best Festival Headliner: Adele. Also nominated: Coldplay, Radiohead, Biffy Clyro, Foals, The Stone Roses
• Best Live Band: The 1975. Also nominated: Bastille, Slaves, Bring Me The Horizon, Christine And The Queens, Wolf Alice
• Best Album: Bastille, for Wild World. Also nominated: Kanye West, for The Life Of Pablo, Skepta, for Konnichiwa, The 1975, for I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It, Radiohead, for A Moon Shaped Pool, Beyoncé, for Lemonade
• Best Track: Christine and the Queens, for Tilted. Also nominated: Tove Lo, for Cool Girl, Charli XCX, for After The Afterparty, Skepta, for Man, Bastille, for Good Grief, The 1975, for Somebody Else
• Best TV Show: Fleabag. Also nominated: Stranger Things, Game Of Thrones, Black Mirror, Humans, People Just Do Nothing
• Best Film: My Scientology Movie. Also nominated: Deadpool, Captain America: Civil War, Suicide Squad, Everybody Wants Some!!, Hunt For The Wilderpeople
• Best Music Film: Oasis, for Supersonic, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, for One More Time With Feeling, Sing Street, Gimme Danger, The Rolling Stones, for Havana Moon, The Beatles, for Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years
• Best Music Video: Slaves, for Consume or Be Consumed. Also nominated: Kanye West, for Famous, Beyoncé, for Formation, Radiohead, for Burn The Witch, Rat Boy, for Get Over It, Wolf Alice, for Lisbon
• Best Reissue: Oasis, for Be Here Now. Also nominated: R.E.M., for Out Of Time, Pink Floyd, for Meddle, Michael Jackson, for Off The Wall, DJ Shadow, for Endtroducing, Blur, for Leisure
• Best Book: Johnny Marr, for Set the Boy Free
• Best Festival: Glastonbury. Also nominated: Reading & Leeds, Download, Isle Of Wight, Primavera, V Festival
• Best Small Festival: End of the Road. Also nominated: Y Not, Green Man, Festival No. 6, Kendall Calling, Slam Dunk
• Music Moment of the Year: Coldplay‘s Viola Beach tribute at Glastonbury. Also nominated: Bring Me The Horizon invade Coldplay’s table at NME Awards 2016, Beyoncé drops Lemonade, Skepta wins Mercury Prize, Pete Doherty plays The Bataclan, The Stone Roses’ first new music in 20 years
• Worst Band: 5 Seconds of Summer. Also nominated: The Chainsmokers, Clean Bandit, Honey G, Nickelback, Twenty One Pilots
• Villain of the Year: Nigel Farage. Also nominated: Donald Trump, David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Martin Shkreli, Katie Hopkins
• Hero of the Year: Beyoncé. Also nominated: David Bowie, Adele, Millie Bobby Brown, Gary Lineker, Liam Gallagher
• Outstanding Contribution to Music: Wiley

See also

• NME Awards on Wikipedia
• NME Awards 2015 – Winners
• NME Awards 2015 – Nominations
• NME Awards 2016 – Winners and Nominations
• NME Awards 2017 – Winners and Nominations

NME Awards – 2012-2014

By 2012, the NME Awards were positively contemporary. Let’s take a look at the awards through to 2014.

NME Awards 2012

Below is the full list of nominations for the event, which will be held at the O2 Academy Brixton on February 29.

• Godlike Genius Award: Noel Gallagher
• Outstanding Contribution to Music: Pulp
• Best British Band: Kasabian. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Horrors, Muse
• Best International Band: Foo Fighters. Also nominated: Arcade Fire, Justice, Odd Future, The Strokes
• Best Solo Artist: Florence + the Machine. Also nominated: Adele, Frank Turner, Laura Marling, Miles Kane, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
• Best New Band: The Vaccines. Also nominated: Foster The People, Lana Del Rey, Tribes, Wu Lyf
• Best Live Band: Arctic Monkeys. Also nominated: Kasabian, Muse, Pulp, Two Door Cinema Club
• Best Album: The Horrors, for Skying. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, for Suck It And See, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, PJ Harvey, for Let England Shake, The Vaccines, for What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
• Best Track: Florence + the Machine, for Shake It Out. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, for The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala, Bombay Bicycle Club, for Shuffle, Hurts, for Sunday, Lana Del Rey, for Video Games
• Best Video: Hurts, for Sunday. Also nominated Arctic Monkeys, for Suck It And See, Beyoncé, for Countdown, Lana Del Rey, for Video Games, Tyler, The Creator, for Yonkers
• Best Festival: Glastonbury. Also nominated: Bestival, Reading & Leeds, T In The Park, V Festival
• Best TV Show: Fresh Meat. Also nominated: Doctor Who, Misfits, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, This Is England ’88
• Best Film: Submarine. Also nominated: Black Swan, Drive, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2, The Inbetweeners Movie
• Best Music Film: Foo Fighters, for Back and Forth. Also nominated: George Harrison, for Living In The Material World, Kings Of Leon, for Talihina Sky, The Libertines, for There Are No Innocent Bystanders, Upside Down – The Creation Records Story
• Best Dancefloor Anthem: Katy B, for Broken Record. Also nominated: Azealia Banks, for 212, Foster The People, for Pumped Up Kicks, Justice, for Civilization, Metronomy, for The Bay
• Hero of the Year: Matt Bellamy. Also nominated: Alex Turner, Dave Grohl, Noel Fielding, Noel Gallagher
• Villain of the Year: Justin Bieber. Also nominated: David Cameron, Lady Gaga, Liam Gallagher, Nick Clegg
• Worst Album: Justin Bieber, for Under the Mistletoe. Also nominated: Coldplay, for Mylo Xyloto, Lady Gaga, for Born This Way, One Direction, for Up All Night, Viva Brother, for Famous First Words
• Worst Band: One Direction. Also nominated: Beady Eye, Coldplay, Muse, Viva Brother
• Hottest Male: Jared Leto (30 Seconds To Mars). Also nominated: Andy Biersack (Black Veil Brides), Dominic Howard (Muse), Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance), Matt Bellamy (Muse)
• Hottest Female: Hayley Williams (Paramore). Also nominated: Amy Lee (Evanescence), Florence Welch (Florence + the Machine), Katy Perry, Marina Diamandis (Marina And The Diamonds)
• Best Album Artwork: Friendly Fires, for Pala. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, for Suck It And See, Bombay Bicycle Club, for A Different Kind Of Fix, Björk, for Biophilia, Jay-Z and Kanye West, for Watch The Throne
• Best Band Blog or Twitter: Lady Gaga, for @LadyGaga. Also nominated: Example, for @Example, Frank Turner, for Frank-Turner.com/blog, Kanye West, for @KanyeWest, Hurts, for @Theohurts
• Most Dedicated Fans: Muse. Also nominated: 30 Seconds To Mars, Arctic Monkeys, Hurts, My Chemical Romance
• Best Book: Noel Fielding, for The Scribblings of a Madcap Shambleton, Jared Leto, for Notes From The Outernet, Jarvis Cocker, for Mother, Brother, Lover: Selected Lyrics, Malcolm X, for A Life Of Reinvention, Shaun Ryder, for Twisting My Melon
• Best Small Festival: RockNess. Also nominated: Field Day, Hop Farm, Kendal Calling, Latitude
• Best Reissue: The Smiths, for Complete Re-issues. Also nominated: Manic Street Preachers, for National Treasures, Nirvana, for Nevermind, Primal Scream, for Screamadelica, The Rolling Stones, for Some Girls
• Greatest Music Moment of the Year: The Stone Roses reunite. Also nominated: Brian May joins My Chemical Romance onstage at Reading Festival, Kasabian see in 2012 with their epic London O2 Arena show, Noel Gallagher launches his solo career with press conference, Pulp steal the show at Glastonbury with secret set

NME Awards 2013

London’s Troxy on Wednesday, February 27, 2013:Host: Russell Kane

• Godlike Genius Award: Johnny Marr
• Philip Hall Radar Award: The Child of Lov
• Teenage Cancer Trust Outstanding Contribution to Music: The Cribs
• Best British Band: Biffy Clyro. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, The Vaccines, The Maccabees, The Cribs
• Best International Band: The Killers. Also nominated: Tame Impala, The Black Keys, Odd Future, Crystal Castles, Foo Fighters
• Best Solo Artist: Florence + the Machine. Also nominated: Jake Bugg, Noel Gallagher, Miles Kane, Grimes, Paul Weller
• Best New Band: Palma Violets. Also nominated: Alt-J, Peace, Django Django, Alabama Shakes, Haim
• Best Live Band: The Rolling Stones. Also nominated: The Maccabees, The Cribs, Blur, Biffy Clyro, Foals
• Best Album: The Maccabees, for Given to the Wild. Also nominated: Frank Ocean, for Channel Orange, Jake Bugg, for Jake Bugg, Alt-J, for An Awesome Wave, The Vaccines, for Come Of Age, Tame Impala, for Lonerism
• Best Track: Foals, for Inhaler. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, for R U Mine?, Haim, for Don’t Save Me, MIA, for Bad Girls, Palma Violets, for Best Of Friends, Tame Impala, for Elephant
• Best Music Video: Arctic Monkeys, for R U Mine?. Also nominated: Grimes, for Oblivion, MIA, for Bad Girls, David Bowie, for Where Are We Now?, Haim, for Don’t Save Me, Tame Impala, for Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
• Best Festival: Reading & Leeds. Also nominated: T In The Park, Bestival, Primavera, Latitude, Isle of Wight
• Best TV Show: Fresh Meat. Also nominated: Breaking Bad, Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy, Sherlock, The Thick Of It, Doctor Who
• Best Film: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Also nominated: Ted, iLL Manors, The Dark Knight Rises, Skyfall, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
• Best Music Film: The Rolling Stones, for Crossfire Hurricane. Also nominated: Searching For Sugar Man, LCD Soundsystem, for Shut Up And Play The Hits, Hit So Hard: The Life & Near Death Story of Patty Schemel Marley, Led Zeppelin, for Celebration Day
• Dancefloor Anthem: Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch, for Sweet Nothing. Also nominated: Mosca featuring Katy B, for What You Came For, Psy, for Gangnam Style, MIA, for Bad Girls, Kanye West and Jay-Z, for Paris, Solange, for Losing You
• Hero of the Year: Barack Obama. Also nominated: David Bowie, Bradley Wiggins, Pussy Riot, Frank Ocean, Dave Grohl
• Villain of the Year: Harry Styles. Also nominated: David Cameron, Skrillex, Psy, Fred Macpherson, Azealia Banks
• Worst Band: One Direction. Also nominated: Muse, Mumford & Sons, Alt-J, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran
• Hottest Man: Matthew Bellamy
• Hottest Woman: Amy Lee
• Best Band Blog or Twitter: Alana Haim (Haim), for @babyhaim. Also nominated: Muse, for @muse, Fred Macpherson (Spector), for @fredmacpherson, Theo Hutchcraft (Hurts), for @theohurts, Wiley, for @EskiDance, MIA, for @MIAuniverse
• Best Fan Community: Muse. Also nominated: Hurts, 30 Seconds To Mars, Manic Street Preachers, The Killers, Enter Shikari
• Best Book: Mike Skinner (The Streets), for The Story of the Streets. Also nominated: David Byrne, for How Music Works, Neil Young, for Waging Heavy Peace, Tim Burgess, for Telling Stories, The Rolling Stones, for 50, Peter Hook, for Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division
• Best Small Festival: Festival No. 6. Also nominated: Sŵn, The Great Escape, Field Day, End Of The Road, Constellations
• Best Reissue: Blur, for 21. Also nominated: Manic Street Preachers, for Generation Terrorists, The Prodigy, for The Fat Of The Land, Interpol, for Turn On The Bright Lights, Smashing Pumpkins, for Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, Ian Brown, for Collected
• Music Moment of the Year: 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony. Also nominated: David Bowie‘s comeback, The Stone Roses comeback shows at Heaton Park, The Rolling Stones 50th anniversary show at London’s O2 Arena, Green Day‘s secret set at Reading Festival, Pussy Riot‘s punk prayer

NME Awards 2014

February 26 at London’s O2 Academy in Brixton. Host: Huw Stephens

• Godlike Genius Award: Blondie
• Songwriters’ Songwriter: Paul McCartney
• Award For Innovation: Damon Albarn
• Teenage Cancer Trust Outstanding Contribution to Music Award: Belle and Sebastian
• Best British Band: Arctic Monkeys. Also nominated: Foals, Palma Violets, Biffy Clyro, Disclosure, Two Door Cinema Club
• Best International Band: Haim. Also nominated: Arcade Fire, Queens Of The Stone Age, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend
• Best Solo Artist: Lily Allen. Also nominated: Lorde, Jake Bugg, Paul McCartney, Kanye West, David Bowie
• Best New Band: Drenge. Also nominated: Swim Deep, Chvrches, Jagwar Ma, Wolf Alice, Courtney Barnett
• Best Live Band: Arctic Monkeys. Also nominated: Palma Violets, Biffy Clyro, Haim, Queens of the Stone Age, Savages
• Best Album: Arctic Monkeys, for AM. Also nominated: Queens Of The Stone Age, for Like Clockwork, Peace, for In Love, Kanye West, for Yeezus, Savages, for Silence Yourself, Drenge, for Drenge
• Best Track: Disclosure, for White Noise. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, for Do I Wanna Know?, Lily Allen, for Hard Out Here, Arcade Fire, for Reflektor, Primal Scream, for 2013, Daft Punk, for Get Lucky
• Best Music Video: Eagulls, for Nerve Endings. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, for Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?, Pharrell, for Happy, Arcade Fire, for Reflektor, Lily Allen, for Hard Out Here, Haim, for Falling
• Best Festival: Glastonbury. Also nominated: Reading & Leeds, T In The Park, Latitude, Bestival, V
• Best TV Show: Breaking Bad. Also nominated: Fresh Meat, Sherlock, Game Of Thrones, Misfits, Doctor Who
• Best Music Film – The Stone Roses, for Made of Stone. Also nominated: Muscle Shoals, Sound City, The National, for Mistaken For Strangers, Good Vibrations, Muse
• Philip Hall Radar Award: Fat White Family
• Best Reissue – The Clash, for Sound System. Also nominated: Nirvana, for In Utero: 20th Anniversary Edition, The Beta Band, for The Regal Years: 1997-2004, The Breeders, for LSXX (Last Splash 20th Anniversary Edition), Bob Dylan, for Bootleg Series, Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait (1969-1971), The Velvet Underground, for White Light/White Heat 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
• Best Band Blog Or Twitter – Alana Haim (Haim). Also nominated: Jehnny Beth (Savages), Albert Hammond Jr, James Blunt, Theo Hutchcraft (Hurts), Grimes
• Best Book: Morrissey, for Autobiography. Also nominated: Alan McGee, for Creation Stories, Bob Stanley, for Yeah Yeah Yeah, Mark Lewisohn, for The Beatles – All These Years: Volume One: Tune In, Beck, for Song Reader, Richard Hell, for I Dreamed I Was A Very Clean Tramp
• Best Small Festival: Sŵn. Also nominated: RockNess, Y Not, Kendall Calling, Green Man, Festival Number 6
• Best Fan Community: Arctic Monkeys. Also nominated: Hurts, Haim, Muse, Peace, Morrissey
• Music Moment of the Year: Noel Gallagher and Damon Albarn come together for Teenage Cancer Trust. Also nominated: Pussy Riot are freed, Arctic Monkeys headline Glastonbury, Rolling Stones headline Glastonbury, Morrissey‘s autobiography is released, Kanye West brings Jesus impersonator on stage
• Worst Band: The 1975. Also nominated: One Direction, The Wanted, Imagine Dragons, 30 Seconds To Mars, Muse
• Hero of the Year: Alex Turner. Also nominated: David Bowie, Este Haim, Russell Brand, Pussy Riot, Lou Reed
• Villain of the Year: Harry Styles. Also nominated: Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, David Cameron, Vladimir Putin, Russell Brand

See also

• NME Awards on Wikipedia
• NME Awards History – 2012
• NME Awards 2012 – Nominations (Digital Spy)
• NME Awards History – 2013
• NME Awards 2013 – Nominations (Digital Spy)
• NME Awards 2014 – Winners (The Independent)
• NME Awards 2014 – Nominations (Digital Spy)

NME Poll Winners 1952-1992 (Part Two)

Finally, having worked through all the other categories, let’s take a look at the artist winners for the NME Polls from 1952 to 1992. As I mentioned last week, it’s hard to trace the winners of a particular category through time, so I’ve taken a few liberties. Essentially anything that seems to be roughly the same category has been treated as the same thing. Also, for the year ranges, there are a few missing years here and there, so for instance 1967-1970 could mean anything between 2 and 3 wins.

Best Newcomer

For thirty-five years, the NME Poll included a newcomer award, variously titled “World’s Most Promising New Name”, “Best New Group”, and various other things. It’s an amazing time capsule of new acts throughout the ages – who would have thought that Cliff Richard and The Stone Roses could appear on the same list?

Best New Artist

• 1956 – Ronnie Scott
• 1958 – Cliff Richard
• 1959 – Craig Douglas
• 1960 – Emile Ford
• 1961 – John Leyton
• 1962 – Frank Ifield
• 1963 – Gerry Marsden
• 1964 – Mick Jagger
• 1965 – Seekers (group) & Donovan (solo)
• 1966 – Spencer Davis Group (group) & Stevie Winwood (solo)
• 1967 – Bee Gees (group) & Engelbert Humperdinck (solo)
• 1968 – Love Affair (group & Mary Hopkins (solo)
• 1970 – Jethro Tull
• 1971 – McGuinness Flint (group) & Elton John (solo)
• 1972 – New Seekers (group) & Rod Stewart (solo)
• 1973 – Golden Earring (World) & Leo Sayer (British)
• 1975 – Bad Company
• 1976 – Eddie and the Hot Rods
• 1977 – Tom Robinson
• 1978 – Public Image Ltd.
• 1979 – The Specials
• 1980 – UB40
• 1981 – Altered Images
• 1983 – The Smiths
• 1984 – Bronski Beat
• 1985 – The Jesus and Mary Chain
• 1986 – The Housemartins
• 1987 – The Proclaimers
• 1988 – The House of Love
• 1989 – The Stone Roses
• 1990 – The Charlatans
• 1991 – Kingmaker
• 1992 – Suede

Technical Categories

A lot of categories seem to have come and gone throughout the history of the awards to celebrate particular types of performer. Here are some of the highlights!

Musician of the Year

• 1952 – Ronnie Scott
• 1954 – Eric Delaney
• 1957 – Eddie Calvert

Best Guitarist

• 1954 – Bert Weedon
• 1973 – Eric Clapton
• 1976 – Jimmy Page
• 1978 – Mick Jones
• 1979-1982 – Paul Weller
• 1983 – The Edge

Best Bassist

• 1973, 1976 – Paul McCartney
• 1978 – Jean Jacques Burnel
• 1979-1982 – Bruce Foxton
• 1983 – Peter Hook

Best Keyboardist/Electronics

• 1973, 1976-1977 – Rick Wakeman
• 1978-1981 – Dave Greenfield
• 1982 – Vince Clarke
• 1983 – Steve Nieve

Best Drummer

• 1973, 1975 – Carl Palmer
• 1976 – John Bonham
• 1977 – Paul Cook
• 1978 – Keith Moon
• 1979-1982 – Rick Buckler
• 1983 – Budgie

Best Instrumentalist

• 1962-1963 – Jet Harris
• 1973 – Roy Wood
• 1975-1977 – Mike Oldfield
• 1981 – Saxa
• 1982 – The Emerald Express, Violin
• 1983 – The TKO Horns
• 1985 – Johnny Marr

Best Producer

• 1973 – David Bowie
• 1975 – Eddie Offord

Best Songwriter/Composer

• 1973 – Elton John / Bernie Taupin
• 1976 – Bob Dylan
• 1978 – Elvis Costello
• 1979-1982 – Paul Weller
• 1983 – Elvis Costello
• 1984-1985 – Morrissey / Johnny Marr

Best Solo Artist

Curiously, the solo artist categories were for the longest time broken up into “world”, “British”, and even “US” for a while.

Best Female Singer

• 1952-1954 – Lita Roza
• 1957 – Ruby Murray
• 1958 – Alma Cogan
• 1959-1961 – Connie Francis
• 1962-1964 – Brenda Lee
• 1965-1967 – Dusty Springfield
• 1968 – Lulu
• 1970 – Dusty Springfield
• 1971-1973 – Diana Ross
• 1975 – Joni Mitchell
• 1976 – Linda Ronstadt
• 1977 – Julie Covington
• 1978 – Debbie Harry
• 1979 – Kate Bush
• 1981-1983 – Siouxsie Sioux
• 1984-1986 – Elizabeth Fraser
• 1987 – Suzanne Vega

Best British Female Singer

• 1955, 1957 – Alma Cogan
• 1959-1960 – Shirley Bassey
• 1961-1962 – Helen Shapiro
• 1963 – Kathy Kirby
• 1964-1966 – Dusty Springfield
• 1968, 1970 – Lulu
• 1971-1972 – Cilla Black
• 1973 – Maggie Bell
• 1975 – Kiki Dee

Best US Female Singer

• 1955-1957 – Doris Day
• 1958 – Connie Francis

Best Male Singer

• 1952-1954 – Dickie Valentine
• 1955 – Frank Sinatra
• 1956 – Dickie Valentine
• 1958 – Frankie Vaughan
• 1959-1962 – Elvis Presley
• 1963 – Cliff Richard
• 1964-1972 – Elvis Presley
• 1973 – David Bowie
• 1975-1976 – Robert Plant
• 1977-1978 – David Bowie
• 1979 – Sting
• 1980 – Paul Weller
• 1981 – David Bowie
• 1982 – Paul Weller
• 1983 – David Bowie
• 1984 – Bono
• 1985-1992 – Morrissey

Best British Male Singer

• 1955, 1957 – Dickie Valentine
• 1959-1967 – Cliff Richard
• 1968-1970 – Tom Jones
• 1971-1972 – Cliff Richard
• 1973 – David Bowie
• 1975 – Paul Rodgers

Best US Male Singer

• 1955-1956 – Frank Sinatra
• 1957 – Pat Boone
• 1958 – Elvis Presley

Outstanding Popular Singer

• 1955 – Frank Sinatra
• 1957 – Pat Boone
• 1958 – Elvis Presley

Best Instrumental Personality

• 1958 – Eddie Calvert
• 1959-1960 – Russ Conway
• 1961 – Bert Weedon

Best Musical Personality

• 1955 – Bill Haley
• 1956 – Dickie Valentine
• 1957-1959 – Elvis Presley
• 1960 – Duane Eddy
• 1961-1972 – Elvis Presley

Best British Musical Personality

• 1956 – Dickie Valentine
• 1957 – Tommy Steele
• 1958-1959 – Frankie Vaughan
• 1960 – Lonnie Donegan
• 1961 – Adam Faith
• 1962-1963 – Joe Brown
• 1964 – Cliff Richard
• 1965 – John Lennon
• 1966-1972 – Cliff Richard

Genre-Specific Categories

These are just a selection of the categories that relate to a particular genre of music.

Best Soul / Funk Act

• 1973, 1975 – Stevie Wonder
• 1984 – Womack & Womack
• 1985 – Cameo

Best Reggae Act

• 1984 – Smiley Culture
• 1985 – UB40

Best R&B / Blues Act

• 1964-1965 – The Rolling Stones
• 1966 – Spencer Davis Group
• 1967-1968 – The Rolling Stones
• 1970 – Fleetwood Mac

Best Traditional Jazz Act

• 1961 – Acker Bilk
• 1962-1963 – Kenny Ball

Best Group

Finally, we reach the categories for best group – of which there are a few.

Best Group

• 1954 – Stargazers
• 1955 – Four Aces
• 1956 – Stargazers
• 1957 – The Platters
• 1958-1962 – Everly Brothers
• 1963-1965 – The Beatles
• 1966 – The Beach Boys
• 1967-1970 – The Beatles
• 1971 – Creedence Clearwater Revival
• 1972 – T. Rex
• 1973 – Yes
• 1975 – Roxy Music
• 1976 – Led Zeppelin
• 1977 – Sex Pistols
• 1978 – The Clash
• 1979-1982 – The Jam
• 1983 – New Order
• 1984-1987 – The Smiths
• 1988 – The Wedding Present
• 1989 – The Stone Roses
• 1990 – Happy Mondays
• 1991-1992 – R.E.M.

Best British Group

• 1955 – Stargazers
• 1957 – King Brothers
• 1958-1959 – The Mudlarks
• 1960 – King Brothers
• 1961-1962 – The Springfields
• 1963-1971 – The Beatles
• 1972 – T. Rex
• 1973 – Yes

Best British Small Band

• 1952 – Johnny Dankworth Seven
• 1954 – Ronnie Scott and His Orchestra
• 1955-1957 – The Kirchins
• 1958-1959 – Lonnie Donegan
• 1960-1963 – The Shadows

Best British Large Band or Orchestra

• 1952-1961 – Ted Heath and His Music
• 1962-1963 – Joe Loss

Best British Instrumental Unit

• 1964-1971 – The Shadows
• 1972 – Collective Consciousness Society

Best Live Act

• 1973 – Alice Cooper (World) & Genesis (British)
• 1975 – Genesis
• 1982 – The Jam
• 1985 – The Pogues

That’s it for now – we’ll continue our journey through the NME Awards soon.

NME Poll Winners – The 1980s

Throughout the 1980s, the NME Poll Winners suffered without an annual ceremony where they could drink lots and vomit on the politicians of the day. Overshadowed by the more popular BPI Awards and British Rock & Pop Awards, it’s notable by the late eighties that contemporary pop has been eschewed altogether by NME’s readership.

Oh, and you might enjoy the slightly questionable choices for “human being of the year”…

1980

• Best Group: The Jam
• Best New Act: UB40
• Best Male Singer: Paul Weller
• Best Guitarist: Paul Weller
• Best Drummer: Rick Buckler
• Best Songwriter: Paul Weller
• Best Bassist: Bruce Foxton
• Best Keyboardist: Dave Greenfield
• Best Other Instrumentalist: Saxa
• Best Single: The Jam, for Going Underground
• Best Album: The Jam, for Sound Affects
• Best Dressed Sleeve: The Jam, for Sound Affects
• Best Disc Jockey: John Peel
• Best Dressed Person: Adam Ant
• Haircut of the Year: Eugene Reynolds
• Most Wonderful Human Being: Paul Weller
• Creep of the Year: Margaret Thatcher
• Event of the Year: Death of John Lennon
• TV Programme: Not the Nine O’Clock News
• Movie of the Year: The Elephant Man

1981

• Best Group: The Jam
• Best New Act: Altered Images
• Most Missed Person: John Lennon
• Best Songwriter: Paul Weller
• Best Female Singer: Siouxsie Sioux
• Best Male Singer: David Bowie
• Best Single: The Specials, for Ghost Town
• Best LP: Echo and the Bunnymen, for Heaven Up Here
• Best Dressed Sleeve: Echo and the Bunnymen, for Heaven Up Here
• Best Guitarist: Paul Weller
• Best Bassist: Bruce Foxton
• Best Drummer: Rick Buckler
• Best Keyboardist: Dave Greenfield
• Best TV Programme: Coronation Street
• Best Radio Show: John Peel
• Best Film: Gregory’s Girl
• Most Wonderful Human Being: Paul Weller
• Best Dressed Person: Michael Foot
• Creep of the Year: Adam Ant*

* The NME website says “Adam Andy” but I suspect this must be a typo – please correct me if you disagree!

1982

• Best Group: The Jam
• Best Male Singer: Paul Weller
• Best Female Singer: Siouxsie Sioux
• Creep of the Year: Margaret Thatcher
• Most Wonderful Human Being: Paul Weller
• Best Songwriter: Paul Weller
• Best Single: The Jam, for Town Called Malice
• Best Longplayer: The Jam, for The Gift
• Best Live Act: The Jam
• Best Dancefloor Favourite: Wham!, for Young Guns (Go for It)
• Best Dressed Sleeve: Siouxsie and the Banshees – A Kiss in the Dreamhouse
• Event of the Year: The Jam Split
• Best Dressed Male: Paul Weller
• Best Dressed Female: Siouxsie Sioux
• Best Haircut: Paul Weller
• Best Electronics: Vince Clarke
• Best Guitarist: Paul Weller
• Best Bassist: Bruce Foxton
• Best Drummer: Rick Buckler
• Best Miscellaneous Instrument: The Emerald Express, Violin
• Best Radio Show: John Peel
• Best Music Video: Madness, for House of Fun
• Best TV Show: The Young Ones
• Best Film: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

1983

• Best Group: New Order
• Best New Act: The Smiths
• Best Dressed Female: Siouxsie Sioux
• Female Singer: Siouxsie Sioux
• Songwriter: Elvis Costello
• Male Singer: David Bowie
• Best Dressed Male: David Bowie
• Best Long Player: Elvis Costello, for Punch the Clock
• Best Single: New Order, for Blue Monday
• Best Film: Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
• Best Promo Video: Michael Jackson, for Thriller
• Most Wonderful Human Being: Paul Weller
• Creep of the Year: Margaret Thatcher
• TV Show: The Tube
• Best Dressed Sleeve: New Order, for Power, Corruption and Lies
• Best Radio Programme: John Peel
• Best Guitarist: The Edge
• Best Drummer: Budgie
• Best Miscellaneous Musician: The TKO Horns
• Best Bassist: Peter Hook
• Best Keyboardist: Steve Nieve

1984

• Best Group: The Smiths
• Best New Act: Bronski Beat
• Best Reggae Act: Smiley Culture
• Best Soul Act: Womack & Womack
• Best TV Show: The Tube
• Best Radio Show: John Peel
• Best Single: Frankie Goes to Hollywood, for Relax
• Best LP: Cocteau Twins, for Treasure
• Best Dressed Sleeve: Frankie Goes to Hollywood, for Welcome to the Pleasuredome
• Promo Video: Frankie Goes to Hollywood, for Two Tribes
• Best Film: Nineteen Eighty-Four
• Best Male Singer: Bono
• Best Songwriter: Morrissey / Johnny Marr
• Best Female Singer: Elizabeth Fraser
• Best Instrumentalist: Johnny Marr
• Best Dressed Person: Paul Weller
• Creep of the Year: Margaret Thatcher
• Most Wonderful Human Being: Arthur Scargill

1985

• Best Group: The Smiths
• Best New Act: The Jesus and Mary Chain
• Best Male Singer: Morrissey
• Best Female Singer: Elizabeth Fraser
• Best Songwriter: Morrissey / Johnny Marr
• Best Single: The Jesus and Mary Chain, for Never Understand
• LP of the Year: The Smiths, for Meat is Murder
• Best Soul/Funk Band: Cameo
• Best Reggae Act: UB40
• Best Live Act: The Pogues
• Most Wonderful Human Being: Bob Geldof
• Creep of the Year: Margaret Thatcher
• Best Dressed: Morrissey
• Worst Dressed: Bob Geldof
• Best Haircut: Morrissey
• Worst Haircut: Feargal Sharkey
• Biggest Mouth: Bob Geldof
• Best Film: Letter to Brezhnev
• Best TV Programme: The Old Grey Whistle Test
• Best Radio Show: John Peel
• Best Video: Talking Heads, for Road to Nowhere
• Best Dressed Sleeve: The Pogues, for Rum, Sodomy and the Lash
• Best Hype: The Jesus and Mary Chain

1986

• Best Single: The Smiths, for Panic
• Best LP: The Smiths, for The Queen is Dead
• Best Male Singer: Morrissey
• Best Female Singer: Elizabeth Fraser
• Best Group: The Smiths
• Most Wonderful Human Being: Morrissey
• Best Club/Venue: Town & Country Club
• Best Dance Record: Cameo, for Word Up
• Threat of the Year: AIDS
• Sex Symbol: Joanne Whalley
• Event of the Year: 1986 FIFA World Cup
• Best Film: Mona Lisa
• Best TV Show: The Singing Detective
• Creep of the Year: Margaret Thatcher
• Best New Music: The Housemartins
• Best Radio Show: John Peel

1987

• Best Group: The Smiths
• Best Single: Prince, for Sign O The Times
• Best LP: The Smiths, for Strangeways Here We Come
• Male Singer: Morrissey
• Best Female Singer: Suzanne Vega
• Best New Act: The Proclaimers
• Best Dance Record: M/A/R/R/S, for Pump Up the Volume
• Most Wonderful Human Being: Morrissey
• Creep of the Year: Margaret Thatcher
• Bad News of the Year: Another Conservative Victory at the General Election
• Safe Sex: Morrissey
• Radio: John Peel
• Best TV Programme: Brookside
• Best Film: Angel Heart
• Event of the Year: Nuclear Agreement

1988

• Best Band: The Wedding Present
• Solo Artist: Morrissey
• Best New Band/Act: The House of Love
• Best Single: The House of Love, for Destroy the Heart
• Best LP: R.E.M., for Green
• Best TV Show: Brookside
• Ugly Bastard of the Year: Bros (collective award)
• Object of Desire of the Year: Wendy James
• Film of the Year: A Fish Called Wanda
• Favourite NME Cover of 1988: Morrissey
• Best Night Out: The Wedding Present
• Radio Show of the Year: John Peel
• Stimulant of the Year: Acid
• Event of the Year: Nelson Mandela‘s Birthday Bash
• Bad News of the Year: US Election Result
• Most Wonderful Human Being: Morrissey
• Creep of the Year: Margaret Thatcher

1989

• Band of the Year: The Stone Roses
• LP of the Year: The Stone Roses, for The Stone Roses
• Single of the Year: The Stone Roses, for Fool’s Gold
• Best New Band/Artist: The Stone Roses
• Best Solo Artist: Morrissey
• Best Dance Record: Happy Mondays, for WFL
• Hype of the Year: Batman
• Object of Desire: Wendy James
• Radio Show: John Peel
• TV Show: Blackadder
• Film of the Year: Dead Poets’ Society
• Fashion of the Year: Flares
• Club/Venue of the Year: The Haçienda
• Event of the Year (Music): Reading Festival
• Event of the Year (Real Life): Revolution in Eastern Europe
• Bastard of the Year: Margaret Thatcher

See also

• NME Awards on Wikipedia
• A History of the NME Awards 1953-2010
• NME Awards History – 1980
• NME Awards History – 1981
• NME Awards History – 1982
• NME Awards History – 1983
• NME Awards History – 1984
• NME Awards History – 1985
• NME Awards History – 1986
• NME Awards History – 1987
• NME Awards History – 1988
• NME Awards History – 1989

Pet Shop Boys – Actually

By 1987, thirty years ago this week, Pet Shop Boys were comfortably at the top of their game. Actually may have only peaked at number two on the charts, but it yielded two number one singles, plus another number one that wasn’t actually on the album (Always on My Mind), a number two, and another top ten hit. That’s quite impressive, by anybody’s standards.

It opens with One more chance, one of the many songs that they originally recorded with Bobby O in 1984, and that had already been released as a single in some territories. They completely re-recorded it for their second album, and then remixed it as a 12″ version, removing an entire verse in the process, and that’s the version that opens the album. Putting 12″ mixes on your album was still considered pretty revolutionary at this point, and so this is an unusual but undeniably catchy opener.

Then Dusty Springfield turns up out of nowhere – literally, as she had barely recorded anything for about a decade – to duet on the brilliant What have I done to deserve this? The shift of dynamic is ingenious – neither of the first two tracks really have much in common with anything on the debut album Please, and yet they still sound familiar.

Shopping is next, a social commentary on Thatcherite 1980s Britain. This is the single that never was – it’s catchy and you’ve almost certainly heard it before, but it was never released anywhere apart from on Actually. In a way it has some similarities to Opportunities (Let’s make lots of money) from the first album, and you have to wonder whether they intentionally wrote it as a “catchy” song. Pretty good though.

The singles alternate on each side of the album, so next comes the album’s one flop – the autumn single Rent only peaked at number 8. It’s a beautiful track though, one of the gentlest of Pet Shop Boys‘ early career, supplemented on the single by a couple of brilliant François Kevorkian remixes. The album version is a bit more plodding than the single mix, but still a brilliant track.

The pressure to write hit singles was clearly on at this stage, and so Hit Music pastiches a number of other people’s songs. It’s my least favourite track on here, but you can still easily appreciate the songwriting talent behind it – there’s a wonderful melancholy in the middle section that seems to appear from nowhere. This is also the second of three consecutive songs to talk about paying bills and rent (It Couldn’t Happen Here contains the line “Who pays your bills?”) which does make you wonder slightly what was going through Neil Tennant‘s mind at the time.

Side B opens with the slowest track on here, the exceptional It Couldn’t Happen Here. Famously co-written with Ennio Morricone and scored by Angelo Badalementi, it’s a beautifully melancholic piece about a friend of Neil Tennant‘s who had been diagnosed with AIDS. It also gave its name to the 1988 film which Pet Shop Boys famously released when they were unable to fund the tour they wanted to stage.

This leads to the enormous opening single It’s a Sin. If you don’t like this, you have no soul. Appearing on pretty much every top 100 list in the last thirty years, it hit number one across most of Western Europe and made the top ten pretty much everywhere else. With an appropriately overblown video to accompany it, it is a truly era-defining track.

I Want to Wake Up is the only track on here other than Hit Music that realistically never would have been a single, but it’s a strong album track. Strangely, Johnny Marr chose to rework it for his 1993 Remix, which took it to a very different place. Then the album version of Heart is, of course, not quite as good as the version that topped the charts six months or so later, but it’s still an excellent song, particularly when you reach the trick ending.

Nothing can really prepare you for the haunting quality of Kings Cross, another song about Margaret Thatcher, the then-British Prime Minister who was at the time busy selling off the nation’s public services. But even a conservative would appreciate this song on some level – it’s an exceptionally beautiful, if poignant, closing track.

So Actually sees Pet Shop Boys at their chart-topping, era-defining best, and anything that followed could never be this good. Or could it? If nothing else, the thirty years that have followed have been full of surprises.

At the time of writing, your best bet is to wait a little before purchasing Actually. It will be available again soon with the accompanying disc Further Listening 1987-1988.