Pink Floyd receive 2008 Polar Prize

Pink Floyd were presented with the 2008 Polar Music Prize by Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf at a ceremony at the Swedish capitol today (August 26).

The rock legends were honoured with the country's biggest music prize for their contribution to popular music, alongside American soprano Renee Fleming, who also received the award at the Stockholm Concert Hall.

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters and Nick Mason were on hand to receive the award, and said that their band members David Gilmour and Richard Wright were sorry they could not attend.

When accepting the honour, Waters recognised his 96-year old mother. "If there is any humanity and empathy in my work, which I think there is, I would rather owe it to her," he said.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said the British rock band has made "a monumental contribution...and captured the mood and spirit of a whole generation in their reflections and attitudes," reports the Associated Press.

The winners each received a standing ovation and a prize worth $157,700.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
Find out more about NME.