Ivor Novello winners

And Geldolf talks about Live 8

26 May 05 - The likes of Roger Daltrey, Sting, Brian May and Robert Smith all attended the 50th annual Ivor Novello awards in London on Thursday afternoon.

But despite the big names and the awards themselves, Bob Geldolf stole the spotlight, speaking publicly for the first time about the planned Live 8 event this July.

He collected the award for Best Selling UK Single for Band Aid 20, and in his acceptance speech he said it was time to take action again:

"Once more unto the breach. What started 20 years ago is coming to a fine political point within the next few weeks. Midge and Sting and I need you there again.

"The boys and girls with guitars finally get to tilt the world on it's axis"
Bob Geldolf

"You'll be hearing a lot of stuff over the next four weeks when the seven leaders of the world's richest nations meet finally in this country.

"There's more than a sea-chance that the boys and girls with guitars finally get to tilt the world on it's axis, and I need you there with us."

Other winners at the awards include The Streets, Franz Ferdinand, Keane and Snow Patrol.

The Streets picked up the ceremony's most prestigious award, with Dry You Eyes named Best Song Musically and Lyrically.

Take Me Out won Best Contemporary Song, Keane were named Songwriters of the Year and Snow Patrol won in a brand new category, the Album Award, which was presented by 6 Music's Tom Robinson.

Songwriting veterans were also honoured, with gongs for Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, Lou Reed,  U2, The Cure's Robert Smith and Queen, who won Outstanding Song Collection.

Roger Taylor said this is one of the awards that counts:

"This is all about music, it's about songwriting, and it's not a TV show ... also, the award is the nicest looking award on the mantelpiece.

"But it's about music and writing so it means an awful lot to get one."

Other artists at the awards included Tom Jones, Roger Daltrey, Sting and Pete Doherty.

Pete told reporters that he was at the ceremony to support his friend, Wolfman, whose track For Lovers was nominated for an award.

And he added that it was nice to find people taking an interest in his music for once:

"Because out of everything that's ever been written and ever said about everything I do its never about the music or the songs or about the lyrics ever, so it's a nice surprise, a nice change."

Lucy O'Doherty