CREED dominated the first annual MY VH-1 MUSIC AWARDS at the SHRINE AUDIOTORIUM in LOS ANGELES last night (November 30), winning four bronze fists – with ROBBIE WILLIAMS and METALLICA also picking up awards.
The ceremony, hosted by comedian John Leguizamo, featured celebrity presenters including actor Sylvester Stallone, actress Salma Hayek and Stone Temple Pilots’ Scott Weiland.
Also featured were live performances from U2, Metallica, Christina Aguilera, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bon Jovi and a cabaret-inclined No Doubt. U2 performed their last single ‘Beautiful Day’, while Metallica played ‘Fade To Black’ from outside the auditorium – a song selected for the band by fans voting online.
A rough hybrid of the Grammys and the MTV Music Awards, My VH-1 Music Awards featured winners in ad-hoc categories such as ‘Best Booty Shake’ and ‘Most Entertaining Public Feud’ also picked by fans voting online.
Creed, picked up four awards for ‘2 for 2’, following one hit with another, ‘Welcome To The Big Time’, ‘Group Of The Year’ and ‘Best Song’ – for their track ‘Higher’.
Speaking to NME.COM following the awards, frontman Scott Stapp said: “The fans voting for this award, that gives us the ultimate sense of accomplishment…We love our fans so much and they’re so good to us. We feel like we give so much and they give us back tenfold. We feel like we couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Of the UK artists nominated, Robbie Williams picked up an award for ‘Best UK Act’, Sting won ‘Legend In Action’, and bizarrely, The Corrs won ‘Best-Kept Secret’.
As might be expected for a first effort, the show ran unevenly, with presenters uncertain of winners, cue cards unavailable, acceptance speeches cut off and awards accepted in the crowd instead of at the podium.
After the show, host Leguizamo acknowledged the helter-skelter nature of the programme. “When you put votes up on the last minute on the Internet, you don’t know anything. I had presenters get nervous and drop out and I had to jump in and save the day. You don’t know what’s going to happen. It was exciting like falling out of a plane.”
The other main winners at the awards were:
Gods of Thunder -Metallica
Woman of the Year – Faith Hill
Man of the Year – Carlos Santana
Video of the Year – Bon Jovi, ‘It’s My Life’
Most Entertaining Public Feud – Eminem vs. Everyone
Best Live Act – Dave Matthews Band
Group of the Year – Creed
Song of the Year – Creed, ‘Higher’
2 For 2 – Creed
Your Song Kicked Ass but Was Played Too Damn Much – Santana, ‘Smooth’
Must-Have Album – Red Hot Chili Peppers, ‘Californication’