What a night! Now that the confetti has been swept up, the bottles of champagne recycled, and the Rat Boy moved along from his dozy state on a sofa in a back room of London’s O2 Academy Brixton, we can look back on the night knowing that this was probably the craziest NME Awards With Austin, Texas to date. Here’s some of the best shots from what truly was the rock’n’roll event of the year.
Foals were the first band to play at this year’s Awards – here’s frontman Yannis getting up close and personal with the fans in the pit during their riotous performance of ‘What Went Down’.
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Here’s Wolf Alice bassist Theo Ellis and Libertines drummer Gary Powell caught having a ball at our Awards.
Carl Barât poses for a selfie with two fans – what a great guy.
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It’s Kylie! She was in attendance to present Coldplay with their Godlike Genius award.
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Wolf Alice were delighted, if a little nervous, at scooping the first award of the night for Best Track. Bass player Theo Ellis said: “Fuck, it’s too early. We’re not drunk enough to accept an award yet. This is nerve wracking. Big up our record label who put this song out.”
Here’s Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore – in attendance to present Yoko Ono with her NME Inspiration award – getting a peck on the cheek from an admirer.
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The Maccabees were so elated at winning Best British Band that they felt inclined to give our snapper the finger. A bit much, no?
Blur’s Graham Coxon poses next to Best Film presenter Laura Whitmore in the back stage photo room – looking good, guys.
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Rat Boy delivered a typically eye-catching performance – Cardy and his band of brothers were the third band to play on stage.
Oli Sykes really wanted access to Coldplay’s rider.
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What’s the hand doing, Isaac?
Yoko preaches peace on the red carpet.
Chris Martin salutes the punters up in the heavens of the O2 Academy Brixton.
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Before leaping into the pit of ticket-holders below the main stage. Hope they were ready to catch him…
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Oli Sykes left a trail of destruction in his wake during his invasion of the VIP area.
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This Is England‘s Thomas Turgoose looked pretty pleased to have bagged the Best TV Show award.
Meanwhile, the stars came out for Coldplay’s Godlike Genius set.
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Here’s Radio 1’s Clara Amfo and Carl Barât surveying their kingdom prior to presenting Rat Boy with Best New Artist.
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Hands up if you’ve just won the NME Inspiration Award!
Slaves’ Laurie and Wolf Alice’s Ellie come together for our camera.
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The Libertines’ Gary Powell gives the thumbs-up to his new pal’s unconventional drinking method.
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Who needs a glass when you can drink straight from the bottle?
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Yoko here, enjoying the specially-made VT of her life and career.
And who could forget dear Rat Boy?
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And here came the lady of the moment, on her way to collect the NME Inspiration award.
It seems that Gary was making all kinds of friends at the NME Awards 2016 with Austin, Texas: here he is getting a kiss off Laurie from Slaves.
Chris Martin certainly looked chuffed to play such a major part in proceedings.
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“My award – mine!”
Graham Coxon was equally ecstatic about Blur’s award for Best Music Film – honestly, he was.
Middle fingers up, everyone – here’s a group shot of award-winners Foals and Bring Me The Horizon, plus some extra hangers-on.
And that was that – NME Awards 2016 with Austin, Texas, you really were something special. Until next year, then!
