- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: MTV EUROPE MUSIC AWARDS CEREMONY
- Date: 14th November 1996
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (14 NOVEMBER, 1996) (RTV - AVAILABLE ALL) SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) ROBBIE WILLIAMS WITH EAST 17, SAYING HE'S GOING TO THE TOILET, ALL EYES ARE ON HIM BUT HE'S NOT NERVOUS, BUT JOKES THAT HE'S ABOUT TO FIND OUT THAT ADRENALIN IS BROWN
- Embargoed: 29th November 1996 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA345F04C9G9FZEEQETCYRUVBJ4
- Story Text: British rock band Oasis won Best Song for "Wonderwall" and Best Group at the 1996 MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony at London's Alexandra Palace on Thursday night (November 14).
The Manchester group were not present for the ceremony and the awards were collected on their behalf by Creation Records Managing Director Alan McGee. He said the the band was busy recording and that the award was dedicated to "real fans". He added that the band would "always be about music" and not the picture painted by tabloid newspapers.
Oasis beat The Fugees, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage and Pulp to the Best Group Award. Other nominees for Best Song were Alanis Morissette's "Ironic", "Killing Me Softly" by the Fugees, "Stupid Girl" by Garbage and Pulp's "Disco 2000".
American band Smashing Pumpkins were a surprise winner of the Best Rock Act Award, for which Oasis had also been nominated.
Smashing Pumpkins member D'ARcy said: "I am sure Oasis should have won this. They are the best band since the Beatles, but thank-you anwyay." George Michael won the Best Male Artist award after performing on stage. He said that the 1990's had started badly for him, a reference to his long-running dispute with record company Sony, and that the award was a sign that things were getting better.
The Best Female Artist award went to Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, adding to the four Grammy awards which she received earlier this year.
The Fugees took the MTV Amour Award, their only success despite being nominated for a total of four awards. Best Breakthrough Artist was Garbage, who performed their song "Milk" later in the show. The Prodigy won Best Dance Act and Backstreet Boys won the Select MTV Award for "Get Down", MTV viewers' favourite music video.
The Free Your Mind Award was accepted by Jarvis Cocker, lead singer of Pulp, on behalf of the "Buddies and Carers of Europe" - the silent, selfless unsung heroes who care for people with fatal or debilitating ilnesses, especially those caused by HIV and AIDS.
The star host for the evening was Robbie Williams, ex-singer with the now disbanded boy-band Take That. Joaquin Cortes, the flamenco dancer, Formula One drive Jacques Villeneuve, Neneh Cherry, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Jamiroquai were among the guest presenters.
The MTV Europe Music Awards were transmitted on the MTV network to more than 265 million households world-wide. Nominations were compiled by MTV Europe's 'Academy' of 800 key figures in the European music industry and the five nominations were then voted for by the channel's young adult audience.
WINNERS LIST Best Group Oasis Best Rock Act Smashing Pumpkins Best Song Oasis - "Wonderwall" Best Male Artist George Michael Best Female Artist Alanis Morissette Best Breakthrough Artist Garbage Best Dance Act The Prodigy MTV Amour Award The Fugees "Free your Mind" Award The Buddies and Carers of Europe - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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