Noel Gallagher was the big winner at the 2018 Q Awards, as he took home two awards.
The 51-year-old former Oasis rocker scooped up the gongs for Best Solo Artist and Outstanding Contribution to Music at the glitzy music awards ceremony at Camden’s legendary Roundhouse venue in London on Wednesday (17.10.18), and thanked his brother and bitter rival Liam Gallagher in a tongue in cheek acceptance speech.
Speaking as he collected his award for Best Solo Artist, Noel – who became a solo star after Oasis split in 2009 – said: "I’ve got thank Liam, because if it wasn’t for Liam I wouldn’t be a solo artist in the first place. I must also thank my band who cannot be here for financial reasons, they f***ing cost too much a night out is about grand, so thank you to them if they’re watching this on YouTube or whatever."
For his second award of the evening, the ‘Holy Mountain’ hitmaker’s dear friend and U2 singer Bono took to the stage to read out a poem he had written for Noel – which he had also read at the star’s 50th birthday last year – before handing him the coveted accolade for Outstanding Contribution.
And in his second acceptance speech, Noel joked he was convinced he had already received the gong, before dedicating it to his wife Sara MacDonald.
He said: "I had a look in my trophy room before I came out and I’m sure I’ve f***ing has this before, which is a sad f***ing indictment on the music business if they’re recycling this s**t for me again. Thanks to Q magazine anyway.
"He gave that speech at my 50th birthday party, and I was so f***ing out of my mind that I kept saying to him, ‘What the f**k is he going on about?’ So he’s done it for us all tonight, so thanks to my f***ing great mate. He’s recycled it like the f***ing hippy that he is.
"I’d like to dedicate this award to my wife, who is he far and away the coolest person in this room apart from me. Thank you very much.
A total of 17 awards were presented during the evening – which was hosted by British comedian and TV host Mo Gilligan – with Paul Weller also winning big on the night as he took home the award for Best Act in the World Today.
Elsewhere, legendary Chic musician Nile Rodgers was named Q Legend, whilst Echo & The Bunnymen frontman Ian McCulloch was honoured with the Q Icon award, and Suede star Brett Anderson was recognised with the Lifetime Achievement gong.
Awards were also handed out to the likes of Wolf Alice, who picked up the Best Live Act honour, The Kinks, whose 1968 album ‘The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society’ won them the Classic Album award, and Biffy Clyro helmer Simon Neil, who nabbed the Fender Play Award.
A tie was awarded for Best Breakthrough Act, meaning both IDLES and Goat Girl were given a trophy, whilst teenage rockers Let’s Eat Grandma won Best Album for their second studio venture ‘I’m All Ears’.
When the ceremony drew to a close, it was award winners Wolf Alice who followed up the festivities with a sold-out live show.
Ted Kessler, Editor for Q magazine, said: "Every year of the Q Awards is a vintage year, but this year somehow felt even more special.
"The awards also highlighted – as if it needed to be highlighted – that the future of music is as exciting as its past is rich: the most heavily-voted for category was for Best Breakthrough Act, and there was so little between Goat Girl and IDLES that it would’ve been churlish to separate them.
"It all highlights that boundaries of age or genre don’t really exist any more for music fans, and about that I could not be happier."
The 2018 Q Awards full winners list:
Q Best Breakthrough Act
IDLES and Goat Girl
Q Best Track
Underworld & Iggy Pop – ‘Bells & Circles’
Q Best Album
Let’s Eat Grandma – ‘I’m All Ears’
Q Best Live Act
Wolf Alice
Q Best Solo Artist
Noel Gallagher
Q Best Act In The World Today
Paul Weller
Q Best Festival/Event
Spotify Presents: Who We Be
Q Innovation In Sound
The Streets
Q Classic Album
The Kinks – ‘The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society’
Q Maverick
Lawrence
Fender Play Award
Simon Neil
Q Outstanding Contribution To Music
Noel Gallagher
Q Legend
Nile Rodgers
Q Inspiration
Trojan Records
Q Icon
Ian McCulloch
Q Lifetime Achievement Award
Brett Anderson