"I don’t think the drugs and the drink and all that make a scrap of difference, really. I think you should judge people on their talent and on that level she’s up there, a major talent."

The awards honour artists who have made the biggest contribution to the live music scene in the last 12 months.

Kylie Minogue won best show production for her Showgirl Homecoming tour, a series of spectacular comeback gigs following her recovery from breast cancer.

Arctic Monkeys were named best live act. Lebanese singer Mika won best male while Mercury winners Klaxons were named best breakthrough act.


Amy makes it into dictionary - Sept 18 2007
Troubled singer Amy Winehouse has made it into the Collins dictionary for the first time, it has been announced.

The wild-haired Rehab singer joins other new entrants Formula One golden boy Lewis Hamilton, Prince William’s on-off girlfriend Kate Middleton and Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe. Indie band Arctic Monkeys have also made the cut.

Tory leader David Cameron, the Duchess of Cornwall, chart-topping pop star Lily Allen, TV presenter Russell Brand and acclaimed The Queen actress Dame Helen Mirren are also now in the biographical section of the Collins English Dictionary online pro-edition, which will be launched next month.

A Collins spokeswoman said: "We see it as a snapshot of the English attitude.

"We are the only dictionary publisher to include such entries."

The new names will also appear in the 7th Concise print edition, which is set to be published in June next year.


Troubled Winehouse among Q nominees - Sept 13 2007
Amy Winehouse and Kate Nash are among the nominees for this year’s Q Awards.

Nash, who recently topped the chart with debut album Made Of Bricks and had a hit with single Foundations, has been nominated for Best Breakthrough Artist.

She faces competition from Mika, Jack Penate, Jamie T and Calvin Harris.

It could be third time lucky for Winehouse, who was beaten to the Nationwide Mercury Prize by the Klaxons and failed to win at the recent MTV Video Music Awards.

She has been nominated by Q magazine in the Best Album category for her million-seller Back To Black.

The other contenders are Send Away The Tigers by Manic Street Preachers, Neon Bible by Arcade Fire, Yours Truly, Angry Mob by Kaiser Chiefs and Favourite Worst Nightmare by Arctic Monkeys.

Kaiser Chiefs are also have Best Video and Best Track nominations for Ruby, while Arctic Monkeys are in the running for Best Live Act and Best Act In The World Today.

Mercury Prize winners Klaxons are nominees for Best New Act and Lily Allen’s Alfie has a shot at scooping Best Video.

The Q Awards, voted by readers of the music magazine, will take place on October 8 at the Grosvenor Hotel in London.

Other nominees include Muse, The Killers, Hard-Fi and Arcade Fire.


Mum ’no longer recognises’ Amy - Sept 12 2007
Amy Winehouse’s mother says she no longer recognises her own daughter.

Janis Winehouse, 52, told a magazine she sends her daughter text messages saying: "Where are you, what planet are you on? Call me."

But the pharmacist, from Barnet, north London, who still controls her 23-year-old daughter’s income, giving her £300 a week, told First magazine: "Amy is playing Russian roulette with her health and musical gift.

"She’s lost herself. We’re not talking about my Amy. It’s not someone I recognise. She has become her own stage creation."