10 June 2016
Three Generations of Rockers Honoured in Kerrang!’s 35th Year
THREE GENERATIONS OF ROCKERS HONOURED
IN KERRANG!’S 35TH YEAR
IRON MAIDEN, THIN LIZZY, DEFTONES, BLINK-182, A DAY TO REMEMBER, ASKING ALEXANDRIA, ALL TIME LOW, BABYMETAL AND MORE HONOURED AT THE KERRANG! AWARDS 2016
HOSTED BY THE DARKNESS FRONTMAN JUSTIN HAWKINS
AND SKINDRED’S BENJI WEBBE
ASKING ALEXANDRIA AND A DAY TO REMEMBER SET TO TEAR THE ROOF OFF WITH EXPLOSIVE PERFORMANCES
A spooktacular gathering of rockstars, ghouls and fans were summoned to The Kerrang! Awards 2016 yesterday evening at London’s Troxy, hosted by flamboyant Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins and legendary Skindred star Benji Webbe. This year’s awards landed in the middle of Kerrang!’s 35th birthday celebrations, so it’s fitting that three generations of rockers were honoured and out in force to celebrate Kerrang!’s unparalleled place in rock. From Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy, to Deftones and blink-182 to Asking Alexandria, All Time Low and BABYMETAL, all were winners and united under the altar or rock.
This year, for the first time ever, fans lucky enough to be in attendance will be treated to a special live show after the awards from two of the night’s freshly-crowned big winners; Best British Band, presented by WWE 2K17, Asking Alexandria and Best International Band, presented by Troxy, A Day To Remember.
Kerrang! Magazine Editor James McMahon said: “I’m just a year older than Kerrang!, and every day my knees hurt and I’m out of breath putting my socks on. But what last tonight’s mayhem confirmed to me is that even three-and-a-half decades into its existence, Kerrang! is as fit and lithe as it’s ever been. No other brand could unite stars old and new like Kerrang!. Bound by booze, yes, but by a shared spirit and passion for rock’n’roll, too. Because this night was, from start to finish, one of those nights that sear themselves into your memory – where fans, bands, mag, friends old and new, became one mass of love for a style of music a group of people were so obsessed with 35 years ago they started a magazine, just because one didn’t exist to cover it. By fans, for fans. Thirty five years young. Tonight was the best birthday party ever.”
Fresh from headlining Wembley Arena just days ago, Deftones had their incredible career recognised with the Kerrang! Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Planet Rock. Deftones shot to international fame in the late-’90s and their sound has evolved consistently over the past 20 years. blink-182 delighted fans by picking up the Icon Award in person – Mark Hoppus and new member Matt Skiba were in attendance to receive the honour.
Asking Alexandria were victorious in taking home Best British Band, presented by WWE 2K17. The Yorkshire metallers stunned the world this year with their first album with new vocalist Denis Stoff and impressive live performances. They beat off stiff competition from Bring Me The Horizon, Enter Shikari, Iron Maiden and Biffy Clyro.
Before taking to the stage for what will go down as a legendary performance, Floridian rockers A Day To Remember were victorious in taking away the gong for Best International Band, presented by Fireball, beating metal legends Metallica, electro-rock newcomers PVRIS, All Time Low and pop-punk veterans Fall Out Boy.
Maryland pop-punkers All Time Low didn’t go home disappointed, however, picking up the gong for Best Track, presented by K! Radio, for their smash hit single Missing You. The track has dominated on UK radio airwaves this spring and the band have continued to have incredible success, scoring their first UK Number One album, Future Hearts, this April.
Surrey rockers You Me At Six took on rock heavyweights Biffy Clyro, Guns N’ Roses and masked metallers Slipknot to take Best Event, presented by K! TV. This was awarded to the five-piece for their Camden Underworld benefit show for The Ghost Inside.
Kerrang!’s longstanding dedication to championing home-grown talent saw New Grave punk leaders Creeper walk away with the Best British Newcomer award, presented by Help Musicians UK. The Southampton horror punks have cultivated an impressive and fiercely loyal fanbase in a short amount of time, and are well on the way to becoming one of the UK’s finest rock prospects.
Another UK success came from No Devotion, who took Best Album, presented by Zippo, for their debut effort, Permanence. The alt.rock outfit came out on top ahead of competition from heavy metal heroes Iron Maiden, UK metalcore heroes Asking Alexandria and the critically-acclaimed Baroness.
It was an international showdown for Best Live Band, with Japanese metal idol sensations BABYMETAL triumphing. The pint-sized rockers have become a phenomenon in a staggeringly short amount of time. The three teenagers recently sold out Wembley Arena, secured themselves a main-stage slot at this year’s Download Festival and were the stars of a BBC documentary. The band snatched the award away from Hollywood glam metal giants Black Veil Brides and punk heroes Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes.
Frank Carter didn’t go away empty handed, however, picking up the Spirit Of Punk award. The Rattlesnakes frontman, and ex-Gallows and Pure Love vocalist, is one of the most recognisable characters in British punk music today.
Rock royalty and heavy metal legends Thin Lizzy were presented with the Kerrang! Hero award. The Boys Are Back In Town multiplatinum hit-makers are responsible for some of rock’s most memorable riffs and most-loved songs. The award comes in a year we remember founding member Phil Lynott, 30 years since his passing. Elsewhere, fresh from their Book Of Souls world tour, British metal institution Iron Maiden had their accomplishments recognised with the Kerrang! Legend award, presented by Ghost Vodka.
Best International Newcomer, presented by Troxy, was hotly contested with The Dirty Nil, Beach Slang, Beautiful Bodies and Biters all nominated, however it was New Orleans nu-metal outfit Cane Hill who emerged victorious.
Tonight proved that after 35 years, Kerrang! is still going harder and stronger than ever! As commented by Kerrang! fan Ozzy Osbourne: “Fucking hell – 35 years… it’s great that you’re still here, and that I’m still here and we’re still doing stuff together.”
A further eight awards were revealed on the night, though not presented in the room:
- Best Fanbase – twenty one pilots
- Best Film – Deadpool
- Best TV Show – Making A Murderer
- Best Radio Show – Nights With Alice Cooper – Planet Rock
- Best Video Game – Rise Of The Tomb Raider
- Best Comic Book – The Wicked + The Divine
- Best Festival – Bloodstock
- Best Comedian – Amy Schumer
- Tweeter Of The Year – Hayley Williams
Kerrang! Awards – Full Winners List
KERRANG! LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Presented by Planet Rock
Deftones
KERRANG! LEGEND
Presented by Ghost Vodka
Iron Maiden
KERRANG! HERO
Thin Lizzy
THE ICON AWARD
blink-182
SPIRIT OF PUNK
Frank Carter
BEST EVENT
Presented by K! TV
You Me At Six – The Ghost Inside Benefit Show
BEST BRITISH BAND
Presented by WWE 2K17
Asking Alexandria
BEST BRITISH NEWCOMER
Presented by Help Musicians UK
Creeper
BEST INTERNATIONAL NEWCOMER
Presented by Troxy
Cane Hill
BEST TRACK
Presented by K! Radio
All Time Low – Missing You
BEST LIVE BAND
BABYMETAL
BEST ALBUM
Presented by Zippo
No Devotion – Permanence
BEST INTERNATIONAL BAND
Presented by Fireball
A Day To Remember
BEST FANBASE
twenty one pilots
BEST FILM
Deadpool
BEST TV SHOW
Making A Murderer
BEST RADIO SHOW
Nights With Alice Cooper – Planet Rock
BEST VIDEO GAME
Rise Of The Tomb Raider
BEST COMICBOOK
The Wicked + The Divine
BEST FESTIVAL
Bloodstock
BEST COMEDIAN
Amy Schumer
TWEETER OF THE YEAR
Hayley Williams
For more information about THE KERRANG! AWARDS, please contact:
LD Communications – Emma Elwood / Curtis Sharkey
020 7439 7222
