Blur perform on Oasis prize night

Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon performed This Is A Low

Members of Blur gave a surprise performance at the NME Awards in London - on the night old Britpop rivals Oasis were named best British band.

Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon of Blur, who are reforming for summer festivals, performed This Is A Low from classic album Parklife.

Oasis, who were not at the ceremony, received a record seven nods. As well as best band they won best band blog.

Muse picked up three of the night's awards, voted for by NME readers.

This is ironic, we're being given best British band by the second-best British comedian Noel Gallagher on receiving an award from Russell Brand

The Devon trio were named best live band for the second year in a row and were awarded best album artwork for live album HAARP. Singer Matt Bellamy was also named sexiest male.

Oasis, who released seventh studio album Dig Out Your Soul last year, were booed when the best band announcement was made before a video was shown of comedian Russell Brand presenting the award to Noel Gallagher.

"This is ironic, we're being given best British band by the second-best British comedian.

"Thanks to all the readers who've voted. This has turned into a right bad idea."

Winning run

Gallagher lost out to new US President Barack Obama in the hero of the year category, with former commander-in-chief George W Bush winning villain of the year for the sixth year running.

Nashville rockers Kings of Leon, who picked up two Brit Awards a week ago, continued their winning run by scooping best album for Only By the Night.

New-wave New Yorkers MGMT, meanwhile, did a double, picking up best new band and best track for Time to Pretend.

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The Cure's Robert Smith on the "dirtier" NME awards

Villain of the year

US pop band the Jonas Brothers also won two awards, though are unlikely to celebrate being crowned worst band and worst album.

Glastonbury won the top festival award, while best venue was won by London's Astoria, which closed in January and faces demolition to make way for a new cross-city rail link.

Indie rock legends The Cure received a standing ovation when they were presented with the godlike genius award after 33 years together and rounded off the show with a 30 minute performance.

Other live performances on the night came from Mercury Prize winners Elbow - who won the outstanding contribution to British music award - as well as Scottish bands Glasvegas, and Franz Ferdinand, who performed a cover version of Call Me, by Blondie.

The awards, hosted by comedian Mark Watson, will be broadcast on Channel 4 on Friday.