Duffy's "timeless" smash hit single Mercy was named Song Of The Year
tonight in the Mojo Honours List 2008.
Nominated in three categories, more than any other artist, Duffy joined fellow
Honours List winners Led Zeppelin, Paul Weller, the Sex Pistols, Genesis,
Neil Diamond and The Specials.
Duffy was beaten as Best Breakthrough Act by Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex
Turner's side project The Last Shadow Puppets.
The Welsh singer-songwriter also lost out on the Best Album Award to Nick Cave
& The Bad Seeds for their offering Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
The event was hosted by Mojo magazine's editor-in-chief Phil Alexander at The
Brewery in east London.
Mr Alexander said of Mercy: "It's a timeless song which is exactly why Mojo
readers voted for it.
"It could really have come from any period in time over the last 50 years.
"At the start of the year she was one of the artists in our Eight For 08
feature but we didn't expect her to sell a million albums in the UK in six
months!"
The guest-list at the event included Dave Grohl, Kate Nash, Al Murray, David
Arnold, Phill Jupitus, Georgie Fame and Graham Coxon.
The ceremony, dedicated to celebrating modern music, consisted of key awards
which were voted for by readers of the monthly music bible Mojo magazine and
users of its website www.mojo4music.com.
Spanning more than three decades and hailed as one of Britain's finest heavy
metal bands, Motorhead were honoured with the Mojo Hero award.
Mr Alexander said: "This category recognises an act or artist that we at Mojo
truly admire and love, and whose achievements we feel have been grossly
overlooked.
"Lemmy and Motorhead have proved time and again what a unique force they are.
"They have remained true to the basic spirit of rock n' roll and continue to
astound us with the sheer volume of their performances.
"They've influenced everyone from Metallica to Primal Scream.
"The reason: well, there's simply no better way to go deaf than by listening
to Motorhead."
The Sex Pistols were presented with the Mojo Icon Award.
Mr Alexander said: "As punk's standard-bearers, the Sex Pistols truly
re-defined modern music in the space of one solitary album. Who else has
managed that?
"They also influenced every aspect of popular culture - from fashion to the
media, film and literature and on to the music industry itself.
"They remain totems for rebellion in a manner that is totally unique and which
we are proud to salute with this award."
Having re-united for a blistering show at the O2 Arena at the end of 2007 Led
Zeppelin took home the Best Live Act Award.
The Classic Songwriter Award went to Diamond, presented by fellow musician
Richard Hawley.
Two-tone ska band the Specials were selected for the Mojo Hall Of Fame,
joining previous winners such as Sir Elton John and The Doors.
Mr Alexander said: "Everyone wishes that the Specials were still around now.
"Not only was their music terrific but they stood for something in terms of
what they had to say."
Genesis were awarded the Mojo Lifetime Achievement Award for an outstanding
career that positions them as one of the top 30 highest-selling recording
artists of all time with about 150 million albums sold worldwide.
The Mojo Special Award went to Grammy award-winning soprano singer Judy
Collins.
Another Grammy award winner, New Orleans-based blues and soul singer Irma
Thomas, flew into the UK to collect the Mojo Legend Award.
Alternative rock band My Bloody Valentine won the Mojo Classic Album Award for
their critically acclaimed work Loveless.
John Fogerty received the Mojo Inspiration Award for his contribution to rock
music and "Modfather" Weller received the Outstanding Contribution To Music
Award.
Meanwhile ska and roots reggae master Toots Hibbert took home the Mojo Roots
Award which was presented by Jazzie B.
Other winners included folk legend John Martyn, who scooped the Mojo Les Paul
Award and the Fall's frontman Mark E Smith who received the Mojo Maverick
Award.
The Mojo Vision Award went to Julien Temple for his documentary The Future Is
Unwritten about the life of Clash frontman Joe Strummer.
Juno Original Soundtrack won the Mojo Compilation Of The Year Award and the
Mojo Catalogue Release Of The Year went to Pillows & Prayers, Cherry Red
Records 1981 - 1984.
Here are the winners on the Mojo Honours List 2008:
Song of the Year Award: Mercy by Duffy
Best Breakthrough Act: The Last Shadow Puppets
Best Album Award: Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Hero Award: Motorhead
Icon Award: the Sex Pistols
Best Live Act Award: Led Zeppelin
Classic Songwriter Award: Neil Diamond
Hall of Fame: The Specials
Lifetime Achievement Award: Genesis
Special Award: Judy Collins
Legend Award: Irma Thomas
Classic Album Award: Loveless by My Bloody Valentine
Inspiration Award: John Fogerty
Outstanding Contribution to Music Award: Paul Weller
Roots Award: Toots Hibbert
Les Paul Award: John Martyn
Maverick Award: Mark E Smith
Vision Award: Julien Temple for The Future is Unwritten
Compilation of the Year Award: Juno Original Soundtrack
Catalogue Release of the Year: Pillows & Prayers Cherry Red Records 1981-1984
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