Beating Amy Winehouse and Arctic Monkeys, Klaxons were honored this year's Nationwide Mercury Prize through their debut album.
- September 5, 2007
AceShowbiz -
Two surprises came out at 2007 Nationwide Mercury Prize event last night (September 4). Klaxons beat the favored winners Arctic Monkeys and Amy Winehouse while the latter ended her series of cancellation by appearing and performing at the event.
The award was given to Klaxons in London in appreciation for their debut album 'Myths of the Near Future' (2007). Member Jaime Reynolds admitted dropping few tears while claiming the honor. He said, "I've just been sitting here having the worst two hours of my entire life. It just means so much to us."
On beating Winehouse's 'Back to Black', Reynolds reasoned, "Her record is a retro record, ours is the most forward thinking record of the year. We are moving forward." The band received an amount of $40,000 as part of the prize.
Other live performances came from Klaxons themselves, rapper and nominee Dizzee Rascal, New Young Pony Club, and all of the rest of 12 shortlisted acts except for Arctic Monkeys, who were touring in U.S during the event. Winehouse was applauded upon getting on stage to play her hit 'Love is a Losing Game'.
The annual Nationwide Mercury Prize honors albums with quality in innovation rather than commercialism. Previous winners include Rascal, P.J. Harvey and Franz Ferdinand.
