VO5 NME Awards 2017: remember the biggest winners in its 63-year history

The countdown to the VO5 NME Awards 2017 is on, but who's picked up the most middle fingers in the ceremony's 63-year history so far?

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The VO5 NME Awards returns to O2 Academy Brixton on February 15 when the good and great of music will gather to celebrate another brilliant year.

You can be there, too. Head here to grab tickets for the ceremony now.

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Elvis Presley

The pelvis from Memphis has picked up the most awards at the NME Awards, collecting 26 between 1957 and 1972. Not included in that tally is another gong for Event Of The Year in 1972. The event in question? His death.

3
John Peel

Former BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel is the only person so far to equal Elvis’ record, also being named a winner 26 times over his career.

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4
Cliff Richard

Old Cliff’s the closest competition to those pair so far. His first victory came in 1958 when he was named Favourite New Singer (Under 21).

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Paul Weller

The Jam leader was named Most Wonderful Human Being four years in a row between 1980-1983, which helped towards his tally of 21 awards.

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Morrissey

Morrissey’s been the recipient of more than his old band The Smiths and his former bandmate Johnny Marr put together with a total of 18, including one in 1987 for, somewhat bizarrely, Safe Sex.

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Arctic Monkeys

The youngest entrants in the NME Awards Hall Of Fame have got their hands on 17 middle fingers so far and we’d bet they’ll probably add to that number before their career is over. Alex Turner can also lay claim to three more awards too, scoring one with The Last Shadow Puppets and being named Hero Of The Year twice.

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8
The Beatles

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Oasis

In 1997, Oasis picked up both Best Band and Worst Band, reinforcing the divisive nature of the group. Liam’s also won more individual awards than Noel, beating him eight to two. He might not want to get too cocky about that, though – a couple of them were for the charmingly titled Dickhead Of The Year.

10
Glastonbury

No other festival has won as many awards as Michael and Emily Eavis’ Glastonbury. The Somerset bash has picked up 13 awards over the years, and we’d bet there’s more to come in its future too.

11
The Jam

The Jam are a way off Weller’s tally, with 12 awards to their name. They went on a four-gong haul in both 1980 and in 1982.

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Muse

Muse have also collected 12 trophies so far, including Best New Band in 2000. Will they win anything in 2017?

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David Bowie

The late, great David Bowie is hot on Matt Bellamy and co’s trail with 11. He might no longer be with us, but he’s still got the chance to up his total with ‘Blackstar’.

14
Blur

Blur are also on 11. They had a bumper first year at the NME Awards in 1995, collecting five trophies throughout the course of the night.

15
The Smiths

The Smiths have got 10 awards to their name, with their last coming in 2012. They won the Best Reissue award for ‘Complete Re-Issues’.

16
Radiohead

Radiohead are level with Morrissey and Marr. Will ‘A Moon Shaped Pool’ or their Glastonbury 2017 headline set see them move up this list in the next couple of years?

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