Bands make NME award predictions

By Kev Geoghegan
Newsbeat music reporter

Arctic Monkeys did the double at the Brits, winning best group and album. But what are the chances of repeating at success and walking off with any of their record seven nominations at the Shockwaves NME awards 2008?

The Sheffield lads are in the running for British band, live band, best album, track, and video.

They have also been shortlisted for best album artwork, with singer Alex Turner also picking up a nomination in the best dressed category.

See the NME awards shortlist

Carl and Didz from Dirty Pretty Things think voters may be turned off by the band's commercial success, which so endeared them to the Brits.

Carl Barat and Didz Hammond from Dirty Pretty Things

Didz said: "Maybe the tide has turned against them and they'll go away empty handed with their tails between their legs!"

The lads, who are working on the follow up to 2006's Waterloo To Anywhere have missed out on a nomination at this year's NME awards.

Klaxons to win?

So who do they think will win?

They said: "Well not us evidently, I think the Klaxons should just turn up with a milk crate to put the awards in."

Klaxons have been nominated in four categories, battling it out with the Monkeys in the best band, album and video categories.

Klaxons plan to 'vanish' after NME awards

Another nominee for best band is Babyshambles. Bass player Drew MccConnell does not fancy their chances.

He said: "It's like dancing to architecture isn't it? Talking about music.

"I think the Arctic Monkeys are a brilliant band and that's as stiff as competition gets, Klaxons are a good band too.

"It's always nice when someone says you're good, I hope we win."

Drew and Pete find a place to lean

Light hearted awards

If Babyshambles go home empty handed, maybe there is something in it for their frontman Pete Doherty.

He is included in some of the lighter categories like hero of the year, plus best and worst dressed. McConnell does not think Pete will be bothered too much by any of them.

He said: "If you're up for best dressed and worst dressed, that gives it all there doesn't it?

"How seriously you should take it?"

The Brits vs the NME Awards

No-one wants to be labelled villain of the year but that is what awaits Tony Blair, Razorlight's Johnny Borrell, Gordon Brown, George W Bush or Amy Winehouse.

The awards are co-hosted by Gavin & Stacy stars Matt Horne and James Corden. Corden reckons it is a shame the category is included.

He said: "It's that aspect of the awards, I'm not such a fan of really.

"I think positivity is the key. I don't think I have the right to say if anyone's bad.

"I'm quite pleased we won't be giving those awards out."

The Rev aka Jon McClure

This year, Reverend and the Makers have missed out on any nominations. Singer Jon McClure is always good for a quote though and insists he isn't bitter.

He admitted: "They don’t like us do they?

"I don’t think there are any new artists in them awards that have said anything political or anything about the way the world works in an age when we need people like that.

"But that’s fine, I don’t have no beef with them."