US honours for Martin and The Who

Record producer Sir George Martin and rock legends The Who have been honoured at separate ceremonies in Los Angeles.

Sir George, best known for signing and producing The Beatles, received a career award from The Recording Academy's Grammy Foundation.

The Who, meanwhile, were the subject of the third annual VH1 Rock Honours.

Bands like The Flaming Lips and Foo Fighters joined singer Roger Daltry and guitarist Pete Townshend for a two-hour concert celebrating their biggest hits.

Actor Sean Penn introduced Pearl Jam, who were backed by an orchestra for their version of the Love Reign O'er Me from the British band's rock opera Quadrophenia.

"We're all here tonight because The Who never did sell out, unlike certain music channels," Penn told the crowd.

Pearl Jam's singer Eddie Vedder and lead guitarist Mike McCready paid homage to The Who's penchant for destroying instruments by throwing a microphone into the audience and a guitar up in the air.

Across town at the University of Southern California, Sir George was saluted with a more sedate concert celebrating the songs he made famous.

Guest performers included Burt Bacharach, guitarist Jeff Beck and singer Tom Jones.

Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow Olivia were also in attendance.

Tributes

"Yoko and Olivia are here tonight," Martin noted as he accepted his award.

"Paul and Ringo can't be here, because they're doing their own tour. They're workaholics. I can't understand why, but they are.

"I miss a lot of people. I miss so many people who have died on me. God knows I'm old enough. But younger people have left the scene, and I miss them, as you do.

"Great people; John and George particularly."

The Who also paid tribute to former colleagues at their ceremony, with pre-taped tributes to drummer Keith Moon, who died in London in 1978 and bassist John Entwistle, who died in Las Vegas in 2002.

"I miss old friends, but they are with me," said Daltry on the red carpet before the event.

"When we start playing our music, John and Keith echo with us all the time, so it's kind of like they never left."

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
The Who
The Beatles
Grammy Foundation
VH1 Rock Honours
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