ONE
y r a d n e leg
NIGHT All the winners Backstage gossip The parties Red carpet glamour
Picture: JASON ROBERTS
Your special Liverpool ECHO souvenir of the 15th MTV Europe Music Awards
2 FEATURES
Friday, November 7, 2008
★★★★
The 15th MTV Europe Music Awards by JADE WRIGHT Music Reporter
F
ROM the canonisation of Macca to a complete Rickrolling, the eyes of the world were firmly fixed on Liverpool last night. Stars from across the globe flocked to the ECHO Arena for the music industry’s equivalent of the Oscars. Pink, Beyonce, Kanye West, The Killers, Duffy and the Ting Tings were among the superstars who performed at the star-studded event, hosted by Katy Perry. She opened the show with a fun-packed rendition of her summer global hit I Kissed a Girl, arriving dressed in an American footballer's kit astride an enormous cherry chapstick. It kicked off a spectacular stage show, spanning two main stages, an open celebrity bar and a stunning vertical ‘Celebrity Squares’ style stage. After Katy Perry set the tone, R&B superstar Beyonce got the crowd up and dancing with a sizzling rendition of If I were a Boy, but it was the newly elected US president who drew the biggest cheers. Dressed in a Barack Obama T-shirt, Jared Leto from 30 Seconds to Mars, had the crowd standing in honour of the US President-elect. Amid rapturous cheers, he proclaimed: "Liverpool, let's hear it for Barack Obama." And the resultant cheers rang around the arena. An estimated 10,000 music fans watched the awards ceremony, and an estimated 30m viewers are thought to have tuned in to watch live. Replays of the show are expected to be watched by a billion people. The Sugababes joined in the American theme, Keisha, Amelle and Aintree’s Heidi Range took to the stage each wearing red, white or blue. And the act that started it all, Take That returned 15 years after playing the first awards back in 1994, to perform new single Greatest Day. Global R&B star Kanye West, gave a showstopping rendition of Love Lockdown before being joined on stage by British hip hop singer Estelle for their international hit American Boy. The Killers stole the show from inside the boxes of the vertical stage with Human, and Duffy showed that she’s a small girl with a big talent as she belted out Mercy from the stage below. And not forgetting a pillow fight of a performance from Pink, complete with winged dancers and white feathers spraying out over the crowd. The big winners of the night were Britney Spears and Jared Leto’s band 30 Seconds to Mars, who each picked up two trophies. Pink won Most Addictive Track for So What, and the Rickrolling was complete when Newton-le-Willows crooner Rick Astley won the Best Act Ever. Following the internet phenomenon in which users forwarded his track Never Gonna Give You Up, Rick beat U2 and The Beatles to the award. Modest chap that he is, he didn’t even come and pick it up, leaving presenter celebrity blogger Perez Hilton to take the gong home with him. But the highlight had to be when Sir Paul McCartney was presented with the one-off Ultimate Legend Award, created in his honour, by U2 frontman Bono in an emotional dedication. “The Irish claim The Beatles,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the Irish potato famine John, George, Paul and Ringo would have come from Dublin. “For someone like me who makes his living in rock and roll to be asked to say a few words about Paul McCartney is like asking a Catholic priest if he
SUPERSTAR: Beyonce put in a stellar performance
CHEERS MATE: Sir Paul McCartney thanks Bono for his introduction as he receives the Ultimate Legend award
Arena rocked as MTV stars hit the town wouldn’t mind stopping off in Rome to give an award to St Peter. “This is the man who invented my job. “On the way here Paul McCartney, who was driving the car, was pointing out every place in Liverpool he cycled, where he wrote songs, where he bunked school. “It was like being in the Popemobile with the Pope driving.” Becoming increasingly emotional, he added: “In the universe of rock and roll bands, The Beatles were the Big Bang. “Tonight is about how much
Liverpool means to Paul McCartney and how much Paul McCartney means to Liverpool. “From the Cavern Club to the Liverpool Institute, Penny Lane to the Liverpool Oratorio, this is the city where he was born and bred, this is the city that gave him his attitude, this is the city that gave him his essence, his inspiration. “He paid that debt by putting images of Liverpool in the dream life of the whole world.” And, in a final, touching tribute, he added: “I think we all suspect, someday, when all of us are gone and this great hall is no longer here, in two or three hundred years from now we sense, we fear our names will be forgotten. “There is one person here, in this hall tonight whose songs we know will be heard now and forever.
“His songs will continue to be sung, heard and played as long as humans care about beauty and longing, heartbreak and faith. “There is one person here tonight whose work is immortal. You call him sir, I call him lord, saint Paul McCartney.” Coming on to Love me Do, the city’s favourite son was clearly humbled. “Liverpool – hiya. What can I say? I love you,” he said. “I want to thank my mum and dad - Jim and Mary - my brother Mike who is here tonight. I’d like to thank all my family, my fantastic family in Liverpool. “And I’d like to thank my mates Ringo, George and John. “Many years ago there were four little boys born here in Liverpool, and we went on to do quite well. “Thank you.”
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Friday, November 7, 2008
FEATURES 3
The 15th MTV Europe Music Awards
GET THE PARTY STARTED: Pink leads from the front in a massive pillow fight Picture: JASON ROBERTS / jr061108mtv
What a night
MTV AWARD WINNERS
THE 15th MTV Europe Music Awards was a ladies’ night with Britney, Pink and Katy Perry picking up honours. Here is a full run down of the MTV winners. MOST ADDICTIVE TRACK
Winner - Pink - So What 2nd Place - Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl 3rd Place - Kid Rock - All Summer Long
For more pictures, video and our MTV blog go to www.liverpool echo.co.uk/mtv
VIDEO STAR
Winner - 30 Seconds to Mars - A Beautiful Life 2nd Place - Santogold - L E S Artistes 3rd Place - Weezer - Pork And Beans HEADLINER
Winner - Tokio Hotel 2nd Place - Linkin Park 3rd Place - Metallica ULTIMATE URBAN
GUITAR MAN: Matthew Murphy from The Wombats on stage jr061108mtv
Winner - Kanye West 2nd Place - Chris Brown 3rd Place - Beyonce
LET ME GO: The Ting Tings rock out performing That’s Not My Name (right)
ROCK OUT
Winner - 30 Seconds to Mars 2nd Place - Metallica 3rd - Paramore ARTISTS CHOICE
Winner - Lil Wayne
jr061108mtv
ACT OF 2008
Winner - Britney Spears 2nd Place - Leona Lewis 3rd Place - Rihanna MTV ULTIMATE LEGEND
Sir Paul McCartney ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Winner - Britney Spears - Blackout 2nd Place - Leona Lewis 3rd Place - Coldplay - Viva La Vida EUROPE’S FAVOURITE ACT
Winner - Emre Aydin (Turkey) 2nd Place - Finley (Italy) 3rd Place - Shiri Maimon (Israel) NEW ACT
WHAT A NIGHT: The crowd lap it up in the ECHO Arena
jr061108mtv
BOX CLEVER: The Killers perform
Winner - Katy Perry 2nd Place - Jonas Brothers 3rd Place - Miley Cyrus
4 FEATURES
Friday, November 7, 2008
★★★★
The 15th MTV Europe Music Awards
Hits and misses on Awards night fashion
by SUSAN LEE Women’s Editor
I
T might have been the MTV Awards, but last night was as much about the clothes as it was the music. And with A-listers out in force on the red carpet, all eyes were on what they chose to wear to the music world’s equivalent of the Oscars – and whether their style choices were chart toppers or fashion flops. While local girls like Alex Curran and Kerry Katona held up well alongside Beyonce and Leona Lewis, there were some outfits which drew gasps for the wrong reasons. Here’s our guide to who wore what and whether they were hits or misses.
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CHRISTMAS came early in Estelle’s household and she was the turkey. In a shapeless frock that was more Bacofoil than beautiful she looked ready to be basted at gas mark 4. On the plus side she had great shoes – and award winning underwear.
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SHE’S had her problems and her share of dodgy headlines but Kerry pulled out the stops in the fashion stakes. Her made to measure black dress by Liverpool designer Philip Armstrong was simple but eye-catchingly flattering. As for those studded Louboutin shoe boots – to die for, darling!
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DUFFY looked a right duffer in this get-up, a fusion of baby-doll nightie meets one of the Teletubbies. It was wrong in so many ways, from fabric to neckline to that funny panel affair on the front. The question is, is Duffy Dipsy, La La – or both?
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IT WAS shell pink, it was gorgeous and it was from Cricket. This Marchesa stunner with crystal detail was pure Leona – classy, elegant but not too over the top. Order yours now or get killed in the WAG rush.
NORMALLY the PVC look is one subscribed to only by the very brave or those with, er, unusual tastes but Daisy Lowe managed to carry it off well. The fitted bodice and studded detail could have made it too severe but the flared skirt had a softening effect. I’ll bet she sweated in it nicely, though.
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Friday, November 7, 2008
FEATURES 5
The 15th MTV Europe Music Awards
n MTV’s red carpet ●
EYE candy all round as the hottest couple on the night arrived, each looking a million dollars. For the ladies, footballer Mikel Arteta led the field in Converse trainers and open necked shirt while girlfriend Lorena Bernal showed why she’s a former Miss Spain. That dress. Those shoes. We want to be her.
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THERE was more than a touch of old style Hollywood glamour about this frock and it was none the worse for that. Glittery and golden, it hugged Anastacia’s figure beautifully. And is it us or is the American singer looking younger every year?
For more pictures, video and our MTV blog go to www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/mtv
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DEAR oh dear, what was Pink thinking? This was more wedding frock than awards ceremony gown and bore a striking similarity to last Christmas’s wrapping paper. Too girly for the star whose image is usually more in-your-face. Full marks for fab hair, though.
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THE Sugababes looked as sweet as candy in an eclectic mix of patriotic red, white and blue. Special mention to Amelle’s fabulous girly pink bovver boots and local girl Heidi Range’s hint of sparkle ruffled dress, bravely teamed with black tights. Way to go girls!
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HOTPANTS can be a dangerous choice for any girl, but fortunately Alex Curran has the legs to carry off the look. This sixties inspired all-in-one showed off her figure to perfection while black and white is a key trend this season. A winner.
6 FEATURES
Friday, November 7, 2008
★★★★
The 15th MTV Europe Music Awards
TheInsider
Leona’s last minute shop E
VERYONE knows girls hate a last minute shopping panic, so full credit to Leona Lewis for keeping calm under pressure ... and buying her big night dress just hours before gracing the red carpet. The X Factor superstar dashed in to celebrity favourite Cricket with her stylist yesterday afternoon, searching for the perfect outfit to wear at the Arena. “She was rushing off to rehearsals in the afternoon, and couldn’t decide which to choose, so we delivered a few to her hotel suite at the Malmaison,” Cricket owner Justine Mills tells Insider. “Once she’d done her sound check she went back to the
hotel, tried them on, and settled on a Marchesa dress which looked amazing. “She bought a couple of other dresses too.” So, is the 23-year-old former receptionist still as down to earth as she appeared when she won over millions of reality TV fans? Apparently so. “She was absolutely lovely, really shy and so polite,” says Justine. “She made no fuss at all, and just kept thanking us for our help.” Clearly the £5m record contract she reportedly signed after winning X Factor hasn’t gone to her head. Although there’s now a £2,800 dent in it thanks to that gorgeous dress.
◆ FORGET the sunglasses or a baseball cap if you want to stay
incognito. Even the false beard is out. Yes, we’ve all heard of donning false facial hair to disguise yourself, but The Killers’ Brandon Flowers found that shaving his famous moustache off meant that no-one recognised him in Liverpool. “Yeah, I’ve been wandering around doing the tourist thing with no hassle at all,” he laughs. “I owe everything to The Beatles. Everyone here tonight does. So I’ve been on the real tourist pilgrimage. “It blew me away, seeing the houses they lived in. Just being here in Liverpool has been a humbling experience for me. But to see Paul McCartney in the town where it all started, wow, now that is something else.”
Spotted BACKSTAGE: ◆ Katie from the Ting Tings and Duffy comparing under-eye bags ◆ Jared Leto and his band 30 Seconds to Mars putting on Obama T shirts ◆ Anastacia telling Leona Lewis she wants to be her BBF (that’s best best friend to you and me) ◆ Lemarr chatting about X Factor and how much he loves it and hugging Craig David IN THE AUDIENCE ◆ Liverpool FC player Jermaine Pennant ◆ Kenny and Marina Dalglish ◆ Actress Sheree Murphy OUTSIDE ◆ Kid Rock drinking in celeb hangout Alma de Cuba ◆ Bono having dinner and drinks at Panoramic, while his patient driver waited outside
RAPPER Kanye West was another big name who headed to Cricket to look his finest and, never a man to look understated, he was determined to be all white on the night. Kanye’s stylist initially went in looking for a pair of white trousers but was
told there were none. Determined not to miss out, she took the full bling option - a white £1,000 Balenciaga suit which he loved. So much so she was back in the shop again in the afternoon, to buy ties and bow ties.
Duffy’s simple tastes DUFFY may have broken America and be well on her way to becoming a global star, but the pint-sized Rock Ferry singer hasn’t
forgotten her roots. Her backstage rider? Forget Champagne and canapés, she went for a white crusty loaf, with mustard,
mayonnaise and Branston pickle so she could make herself a butty when she came off stage. She’s a girl after our own hearts…
SOMETIMES being rock royalty pays off. 24 hours before the event, Bunnymen frontman Ian McCulloch didn’t have a ticket for the EMA extravaganza. But that was before Brandon Flowers got to work.The Killers’ frontman discovered Mac was ticketless at Perez’s pre-show Carling Academy gig - and insisted he and daughter Candy go as the band’s guests.
Jared’s jaunt
HE’S Hollywood hot, and Jared Leto isn’t a man shy of splashing the cash to spoil himself. The actor and singer, who picked up the Rock Out award with his band 30 Seconds To Mars, spent yesterday afternoon packing out his wardrobe at Resurrection on Bold Street. Stopping to pose for photos with staff, Jared, pictured far right, eventually headed for the till with ... deep breath ... a Ringspun Bobby leather jacket, two Devilbeard shirts by Fly53, a Barry leather jacket by Ringspun, a Ben Sherman peacoat, a vintage lumberjack shirt, a Vienna leather jacket by Fly 53, skinny cords by Monkee Genes, skinny jeans By Monkee Genes, a Members Only vintage jacket and various trapper hats. And the damage? Just topping the £1,000 mark.
SHOW host Katy Perry treated herself to an early morning pampering session before storming the MTV EMA awards yesterday. The I Kissed A Girl singer visited city salon APT for facial treatments along with lots of MTV VIPs on Thursday. Guests at the clinic in Hanover Street also enjoyed lots of champagne.
★★★★
FEATURES 7
Friday, November 7, 2008
The 15th MTV Europe Music Awards
WOMBATS AMAZED BY VIP VISITORS
FOR hometown heroes The Wombats, the night was just too much to take in. “It’s just bizarre,” says singer Matthew ‘Murph’ Murphy. “I keep wanting to stop and say to everyone ‘look where we are’. But that’s not cool is it?” “We’re really hungover. We were out drinking with The Killers. How bizarre is that? Us, in the Carling Academy, hanging out with The Killers. This is like a dream.” And the lads all have their dream
MTV babes to try for. “The Sugababes are looking hot,” grins drummer Dan Haggis. “But I’d have to say Katy Perry,” adds Murph. “She is beautiful. Just don’t let her boyfriend (Travis McCoy) hear me saying that.” But for bassist Tord, the only single Wombat, there’s only one woman – Beyonce. “Oh, she’s so pretty,” he blushes. “Do you think she would go out with me.” Well, here’s hoping…
Take That delight at city return
THOSE lovely Take That boys couldn’t wipe the grins off their faces, and they say it’s all because they love being in Liverpool. “We’re having a great time in Liverpool,” grins Howard Donald. “I know we’re Mancs, but Gary
and Mark are Liverpool FC fans so they’re right at home.” But he was keeping tight-lipped about any backstage gossip. “We’re being boring,” he laughs. “It’s family first, band second for us now.”
THAT’S MAGIC: The band on the red carpet last night
◆ WIGAN may be
famous for its pies, but Katie from the Ting Tings just can’t get enough of sausage and mash it seems. “We’ve been touring in America for months and I craved proper English food,” laughs the Leigh indie icon. “I was dreaming of Sunday roast like my mum makes, but the sausage and mash backstage is great.” And it made up for a slight mishap with the band’s backstage requests… “Yeah, we got hoummous again and I said to Jules ‘why do they keep giving us hoummous?’ and he said ‘because you put it on the rider!’. “I must have done it years ago. Now I’ll be sick if I see another pot of hoummous.”
FAMOUS FRIEND: ECHO showbiz reporter Tina Miles with The Killers bass player Mark Stoermer and pal at The Newz Bar
Party time! T
HE city’s celebrities and visiting international stars headed to post MTV parties after Liverpool’s biggest ever music event. The Cristal champagne was on ice and exclusive booths were booked at various celebrity haunts to extend the 15th annual MTV Europe Music Awards. Most of the stars headed to Circo at the Albert Dock, which proved to be the A-list-packed venue of the night. Show host Katy Perry, rapper Kanye West, Pamela Anderson’s ex Kid Rock and MOBO-award winning musician Lemar all partied at the bash. Take That, who returned to the EMAs for the first time since the inaugural event in 1994, celebrated their Best Group win at the party. But band member Howard Donald left the boys to party after their performance of Greatest Day and headed for an early night at the Radisson hotel on Old Hall Street. Beyonce’s younger sister Solange Knowles was on stage and to make it a real family affair, the sisters’ parents were also there. The official MTV EMA after party was held at So on Duke Street, while the nation’s paparazzi waited outside various city centre venues for snatch shots of the stars. US rock band The Killers enjoyed champagne in the VIP area in the city centre’s celebrity favourite Newz bar on Water Street. Killers bass player Mark Stoermer hailed the city and said the band couldn’t wait to return to the ECHO arena. Speaking after the Las Vegas rockers stormed at
NIGHT OUT: Liz McClarnon (above) and Lemar (below)
by TINA MILES Showbiz Reporter the show, he said: “We had a great time in Liverpool. It is one of the greatest musical cities. We’ve played here before but never at the arena, it was awesome.” Lonely singer Akon had booked a booth upstairs at Newz and spent £10,000 on 30 bottles of pre-ordered Dom Perignon Rose and Cristal champagne for his pals. Aintree’s Sugababe Heidi Range and her bandmates had also booked VIP seats upstairs but were believed to have been tempted by the free bubbly at the dock’s PanAm aftershow party. Hollyoaks cast members Sarah Jayne Dunn (Mandy), Carley Stenson (Steph), Ricky Whittle (Calvin) and Nico Mirallegro (Newt) danced the night away at the Sintillate event. They said hosting the MTV Europe Music Awards was a major “triumph” for the city. The city’s hotels also attracted the biggest names, with stars such as The Killers, Take That, fashion model Daisy Lowe, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, I Kissed A Girl singer Katy Perry and US rap-rocker Kid Rock staying at the Radisson hotel. Pop star Perry, who had earlier opened the EMAs, also had a suite at the Sir Thomas hotel and enjoyed a luxury meal of oysters and champagne at the St John Restaurant. The Sugababes and Kerry Katona were believed to have booked rooms at Liverpool’s Malmaison.
REACTION: Kerry
Kerry booed
KERRY Katona put a brave face on things despite being greeted on stage by a mix of cheers and boos. She presented the Rock Out award to Jared Leto’s band 30 Seconds to Mars on her first public outing since the This Morning furore. But while the former Atomic Kitten showed off her new surgically reduced figure and remained all smiles, she sadly failed to get a unanimously warm show of support from the crowd.
8 FEATURES
Friday, November 7, 2008
★★★★
What Katy did
S
HE came, she wore ... and she sat astride some very suggestive stage props. But one thing Katy Perry didn’t do was disappoint.Not in her choice of fashion creations anyway.
After performing her hit I Kissed A Girl on the back of a huge Cherry Chapstick, the host, who’s known for her quirky dress sense, rattled through an array of fabulous costumes, from a shoulder-padded American football kit
to a fairground carousel frock, accessorising with a naughty selection of giant fruit! She even found time to pay homage to America’s new president with a Barack Obama dress. Katy, we salute you ...
SUPER BANANA: Taking to the skies above the audience at the ECHO Arena
RICK-ROLLED: Dancing with Pere z Hilton on stage as Rick Astley is announced as the Best Act Ever
ack
HAIL TO THE CHIEF: Katy’s Bar Obama dress
CHERRY CHAPSTICK: Starting the show with a bang
s, much FRUITY: Posing with giant cherrie ght deli d’s to the crow