Each and every Wednesday morning music buffs around the country delve into the pages of NME. The music weekly assures in-depth interviews, news and gig guides which the generation abides by for the next 7 days. Mentioning the news section, earlier this year we had an email from an NME staff writer asking us for support to keep the Hammersmith Palais open. The legendary live music venue battled with the planned proposal for new office flats to replace its grounds. Even our story, the NME.COM appeal and the support from thousands of fans couldn't stop the forthcoming date of Mr. Bulldozer giving the Palais a sad end in just a few months time. So, on March 1st 2007 Hammersmith Palais opened it's doors for the last time for the NME Awards, which just a few more events penciled in tonight was the final time we, ourselves would visit the historic building. Tonight, had to be a good one!

Once inside we witnessed a journalist dream come true. Standing next to us at the bar were Pete Docherty and Carl Barat. The Libertines were joking away together and there was no sign of any anmonisisty. Granted, we had read that the crumbled relationship was rebuilding, thanks to past copies of NME. But to see actual proof right before our very eyes brought hope that a reunion could well be with us in the foreseeable future. Docherty would later retrieve to his table with Kate Moss who was expected to present Primal Scream with their Godlike Genius Award later in the evening.

Sitting next to Shaun Ryder our lungs battled with cancer stricken air and our sanity dashed by cannabis intoxication - in other words, we were to have a bloody good night! An expletive Shaun would turn to us between each announcement of a band asking our opinion. Next to the Ryder was the Hook, Peter Hook in fact from New Order. The stage directly in front of us would bring live performances and over to our far right Lauren Laverne had the task of hosting the nights procedure. The XFM DJ won the devotion of Shaun Ryder who gentlemanly remarked that 'She's fooking funny, that lass is!'

As the awards was spilt between the winners and performances lets start with the important issue. Who took away a lump of plastic giving the finger? (That's the award itself, in case you aren't familiar) Last years dominated winners, The Arctic Monkeys won two fingers! One for best album, the other for their DVD. Unlike their non-show at last months Brits Alex Turner and Co. attended the awards and gave a very short speech consisting of two or three words. The Monkeys may had made an appearance, but Muse & My Chemical Romance winning best British and International bands respectively had to film their acceptance speeches. Muse showed signs of excitement because they were to be the first act to open Wembley Stadium this Summer. Past interviews have highlighted this amazing and prestigious occasion. Shame that whilst we are actually writing this review that George Michael has announced he will play there a week beforehand then, isn't it?

In the month leading up to the awards two tours have injected new bands straight to the limelight concentrating on two different genes of music and one of the headliners walked away with an award tonight. As the stars of the NME Indie tour, The Automatic sobbed after seeing their support act, The View claim victory winning the best Single category. Heroes the the New Rave tour, The Klaxons won the best New Band award. We managed to catch both tours back in February and can't help but think that the Klaxons could be degraded to the VIP Balcony next year. (If the new venue has one, of course!)

Two awards didn't have any surprises when the winners were announced. The Carling Weekender won Best Live Act and Zane Lowe picked up Best Radio Show. Well, he didn't 'pick it up' on time. Busy backstage interviewing the winners Zane missed his queue leaving wrinkly old Jo Whiley making a gesture later in the night that maybe she should keep the award for herself. In fairness such a thieving task is the only way Jo would have an award on her mantelpiece. Luckily Zane came on stage later and made a quick exit from his interview sessions. He wasn't the only person to 'make an exit' around this time of night!

In the toilets Pete Docherty was seen with Kate Moss trying to squeeze into a cubicle, later the two were spotted up to no good in a corridor and were evicted from the building. So when Primal Scream picked up their Godlike Genius Award Bobby Gillespie seemed bemused when The Clash's Mick Jones replaced Moss to hand over the award. With confusion out the way Primal Scream waltzed over to the main stage for tonight's final live performance. Which we will come to a bit later. We've a few previous live acts to cover first.

The curtains were pulled back, the bickering calmed from the tables and the Kaiser Chiefs opened this years awards. With their new release 'Ruby' and a night confirmed headlining the O2 Wireless Festival the band are back with vengeance. Despite the blah that they have taken 'a new sense of direction' their new stuff isn't a far distant cry from their past offerings, this isn't a bad thing of course. They also gave us a preview of 'Angry Mob' their next release from the new album. Which is, well similar to everything else to be quite honest. Embarking away from familiar ground Jarvis Cocker teamed up with fat lesbo, Beth Ditto from The Gossip to cover Heaven 17's 'Temptation'. Badges of bravery have to be pinned on the two for attempting this cover of a much well-loved tune and they managed to pull it off quite well. Incidentally, Beth told NME recently that The Gossip's debut 'Standing In The Way Of Control' reflects her personal difficulty being an ugly lesbian and breaking into the music industry.

To cover our backs, may we just point out that we are not implying that all lesbians are ugly creatures, that would be homophobic of us. There's loads of good looking gay women, for instance...um, er. Let us get back to you on that one!

Quickly moving on and another act taking the smaller acoustic stage was The View, signed to 1965 Records their mentor, James Endeacott and his staff relayed offensive hand gestures during their performance all in good spirit of course!

Next our attention is drawn towards one of the biggest bands in the world today, The Killers. The Las Vegas sensation played two tracks on stage and blew us away, although Shaun Ryder wasn't engrossed as we were.The band are now confirmed to steal the festival circuit this Summer at Glastonbury, V and T in the Park. If they continue churning out gold releases within a few years they could well be joining Primal Scream and picking up the most sought after award of the night. The God Like Genius trophy!

Ending the award ceremony Bobby, Mani and the 'others' took to the stage alongside Mick Jones. The reason for his presence was because The Clash once released a track called, (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais and this was the ideal time to play it! Jones wasn't the only contribution with Primal Scream as the played a five-set mini gig as The View's Pete Reilly helped out on 'Rocks'. The three other tracks in case you were wondering were, Movin' On Up, Country Girl & Swastika Eyes.

Without little delay the VIP party started where guests mingled and made arrangements to dart back to the K West hotel before competition winners were permitted in for the official after show.

This week NME will print a full report from the awards and the organisers are desperately trying to find the new home for the 2008 awards. Where ever it will be you can be assured we will be there and Wednesday mornings will always be taken up with our eyes permanently fixed to the best music weekly around.

By the way - we are still stumped trying to think of a good looking Lesbian!

WebSight Copy.
(Larger Print.)

Best British Band:
Muse
Other nominees:
Arctic Monkeys
Babyshambles
Oasis
Kasabian

Best International Band:
My Chemical Romance
Other nominees:
CSS
The Killers
The Strokes
We Are Scientists

Best Solo Artist:
Jamie T
Other nominees:
Lily Allen
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
Jarvis Cocker
Thom Yorke

Best New Band:
Klaxons
Other nominees:
The Fratellis
The Horrors
The Kooks
The View

Best Live Band:
Kasabian
Other nominess:
Arctic Monkeys
Babyshambles
Muse
My Chemical Romance

Best Album:
Arctic Monkeys - Whatever You Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Other nominess:
Kasabian - Empire
The Killers - Sam's Town
Muse - Blackholes And Revelations
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade

Radar Award:
The Twang

Best Track:
The View - Wasted Little DJs
Other nominees:
Dirty Pretty Things - Bang Bang You're Dead
The Killers - When You Were Young
Klaxons - Atlantis To Interzone
Muse - Supermassive Black Hole

Best Video:
The Killers - Bones
Other nominees:
The Horrors - Sheena Is A Parasite
Kasabian - Empire
OK Go - Here It Goes Again
Panic! At The Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies

Best Music DVD:
Arctic Monkeys - Scummy Man
Other nominees:
Dirty Pretty Things - Puffing On A Coffin Nail
Foo Fighters - Skin And Bones
Maximo Park - Found On Film
My Chemical Romance - Life On The Murder Scene

Best Live Event:
Carling Weekend: Reading And Leeds Festivals
Other nominees:
Download 2006
Oxegen
T In The Park
V 2006

Best Live Venue:
Brixton Academy
Glasgow Barrowlands
London Astoria
London KOKO
Manchester Apollo

Hero Of The Year:
Gerard Way
Other nominees:
Carl Barat
Pete Doherty
Faris Rotter
Alex Turner

Villain of The Year:
George W Bush
Other nominees:
Gerard Way
Tony Blair
Johnny Borrell
Pete Doherty

Worst Album:
Robbie Williams - Rudebox
Other nominees:
Lily Allen - It's Alright, Still
The Feeling - Twelve Stops And Home
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Razorlight - Razorlight

Worst Band:
Panic! At The Disco
Other nominees:
The Feeling
The Horrors
The Kooks
Razorlight