Mojo - The Music Magazine

London, June 16, 6:30pm...

As cameras flashed, radios crackled and fans whooped, a palpable sense of excitement rippled through London’s The Brewery. 500 guests, 21 awards, swathes of music legends and enough liquid refreshment to satisfy a small country - for the fifth year in a row, The MOJO Honours List had arrived.

Artists braving the perilous flashbulb gauntlet of the red carpet included Jimmy Page, Paul Weller, John Lydon, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, The Specials, Irma Thomas, Lemmy, Genesis, John Fogerty, Mark E.Smith, Graham Coxon, Duffy and My Bloody Valentine to name but a few.

And where better to begin our annual celebration than with dynamic duo Alex Turner and Miles Kane (aka The Last Shadow Puppets), who you, our discerning readers, voted MOJO’s Breakthrough Act of 2008.

Duffy scooped the tightly contested Song Of The Year gong for her vintage soul hit Mercy, while Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds secured Best Album for the brilliant and exclamation-heavy Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!. Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, fresh from their recent Wembley appearance with Foo Fighters, took the stage to pick up the coveted Best Live Act award on the back of Led Zeppelin's monumental reunion gig last December.

MOJO's Merit awards are bestowed on artists that have reached truly legendary status. The truly iconic Neil Diamond accepted MOJO’s Classic Songwriter award with typical modesty, while John Lydon, whose Sex Pistols received the MOJO Icon trophy, took the stage with his usual brio and chutzpah.

Chooglin' master John Fogerty arrived at the ceremony with his two sons, both the spitting image of their father circa 1969, and claimed the Inspiration award for his pioneering work with CCR and beyond, while the inimitable Paul Weller was recognised for his role in shaping the last 30 years of British rock. The Outstanding Contribution award belonged to him.

Irma Thomas, Edwyn Collins, Judy Collins and the good people at Cherry Red all stepped up to the mic throughout the evening to deliver poignant speeches that made an already unforgettable event even better.

A very, very special night then and a potent, joyful, raucous reminder that, above all else, music truly matters.

For more from this starriest of starry nights, visit our mini-site HERE.

PLUS! Stay tuned to mojo4music.com all this week for exclusive galleries and Honours List video interviews!

The MOJO Honours List 2008

The MOJO Breakthrough Act - The Last Shadow Puppets

The MOJO Song Of The Year - Duffy (Mercy)

The MOJO Roots Award - Toots Hibbert

The MOJO Les Paul Award - John Martyn

The MOJO Vision Award - Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten (Julien Temple)

The MOJO Catalogue Release Of The Year - Pillows And Prayers: Cherry Red Records 1981-1984

The MOJO Medal - Dave Robinson

The MOJO Compilation Of The Year - Juno OST

The MOJO Legend Award - Irma Thomas

The MOJO Classic Album Award - My Bloody Valentine (Loveless)

The MOJO Maverick - The Fall

The MOJO Hall Of Fame - The Specials

The MOJO Hero Award - Motörhead

The MOJO Inspiration Award - John Fogerty

The MOJO Best Live Act - Led Zeppelin

The MOJO Outstanding Contribution To Music - Paul Weller

The MOJO Lifetime Achievement Award - Genesis

The MOJO Classic Songwriter - Neil Diamond

The MOJO Icon Award - Sex Pistols