Britain’s Classic Rock Awards, put on by the people at Classic Rock magazine, came to the U.S. last night with the 2014 ceremony being held in Los Angeles.
This year, the word classic was taken very seriously with veteran artists taking every award except (naturally) for the Best New Band and a relatively new singer in support of a classic band.
Winners included Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Mustaine, the Doors, Led Zeppelin, Gregg Allman, Joe Perry, Eric Burdon and the relatively new pairings of Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey and Queen + Adam Lambert.
Held at the Avalon Ballroom, the evening was hosted by Sammy Hagar along with such luminaries as Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Henry Rollins and Eric Idle. Gregg Allman, who has been having a pretty good week with the triumphant final performance by the Allman Brothers, a new solo tour and his release from the Midnite Rider lawsuit, took home the Living Legend award which was presented to him by Billy Gibbons.
It was also a good night for the Osbourne family as Sharon was presented with the VIP award and Ozzy won Classic Album for his Blizzard of Ozz.
One of the most emotional spots of the night was the Album of the Year going to Wilko Johnson and Roger Daltrey for Going Back Home. The acceptance speech was done via video as Johnson is continuing to recuperate from his life saving operation for pancreatic cancer.
Led Zeppelin, who just released the deluxe edition of Led Zeppelin IV and Houses of the Holy on Tuesday, took Reissue of the Year for the June releases of the expanded Led Zeppelin I, Led Zeppelin II and Led Zeppelin III.
The full list of winners:
Living Legend: Gregg Allman
Inspiration: The Doors
Band of the Year: Queen + Adam Lambert
Film of the Year: Through the Never – Metallica
Album of the Year: Going Back Home – Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey
Classic Album: Blizzard of Ozz – Ozzy Osbourne
Outstanding Contribution: Jeff Lynne
Reissue of the Year: Led Zeppelin I: Deluxe Edition, Led Zeppelin II: Deluxe Edition, Led Zeppelin III: Deluxe Edition – Led Zeppelin
Maestro: Joe Perry
Metal Guru: Dave Mustaine
The Bluesman: Eric Burdon
The VIP: Sharon Osbourne
Best New Band: The Cadillac Three
more from vvnmusic.com
