aaamusic | On 23, Jan 2012

NME AWARDS 2012
NOEL GALLAGHER TO RECEIVE
NME GODLIKE GENIUS AWARD 2012

www.nme.com
@nmemagazine / #nmeawards
www.facebook.com/nmemagazine

The NME Awards 2012 is proud to announce that Noel Gallagher, the man who defined the sound of a generation, is the winner of its prestigious NME Godlike Genius Award.

Noel has confirmed he will pick up the award at the iconic NME Awards 2012, which take place at London’s O2 Academy Brixton on Wednesday 29 February.

Noel Gallagher says: “I would like to thank NME for bestowing upon me such a great accolade. I have dreamt of this moment since I was 43 years old. I accept that I am now a genius, just like God.”

It’s been an incredible 12 months for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, topping the album charts, scoring a hit with “AKA What a Life” and selling out arenas across the country.  Defining the sound of the past year is no mean feat, defining the sound of an entire generation is truly extraordinary.  As the mastermind behind Oasis, Noel spearheaded the resurgence of 90’s guitar bands with the life-changing, era defining album Definitely Maybe. Oasis sound-tracked what it was like to grow up in Britain in the ‘90s and beyond, with Noel responsible for anthems including ‘Live Forever’, ‘Supersonic’, ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Don’t look back in Anger’, ‘Cigarettes And Alcohol’ and ‘Little by Little’.  These aren’t mere greatest hits – they’re national anthems, as ingrained in Britain’s musical psyche as anything The Beatles, The Stones or The Pistols ever produced.

NME editor Krissi Murison says: “For the best part of two decades, the voice of one man has dominated the pages of NME more than any other. That man is Noel Gallagher. Opinionated, intelligent, passionate and always hilarious – Noel walks and talks it better than any other musician out there, and it’s just one of the reasons why the British public loves him so dearly.  The other reason, of course, is the anthems. No individual has written as many sing–out–loud classics as Noel. His songwriting has defined a generation, and for that reason I’m incredibly happy to declare Noel NME’s Godlike Genius. That he keeps pushing boundaries as a solo artist proves that there’s a long way to go in the story of one of the most talented musicians Britain has ever produced.”

The NME Godlike Genius Award is an accolade that is only handed out to the true greats of the music world.  The culmination of the evening, it recognises the best of the best. Previous winners include The Clash, Paul Weller, The Cure, Manic Street Preachers, New Order & Joy Division and, last year, Dave Grohl.

The NME Awards season gets underway with the NME Awards Tour.  Headlined by Two Door Cinema Club with Metronomy, Tribes and Azealia Banks also on the bill it kicks off at O2 Academy Glasgow on February 8.

The NME Awards Shows also take place throughout February.  Justice will play a five date UK tour whilst Marina And The Diamonds, The Cribs, The Black Keys, The Drums, Kurt Vile, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Pure Love, Alabama Shakes, tUnE-yArDs, Charlie XCX, Band of Skulls, Oh Land, Little Dragon, Cloud Control, The Big Pink, The Jezabels, S.C.U.M, Zulu Winter and Slow Club are set to play NME Awards Shows in iconic venues throughout London.

For full tour dates and more details keep checking www.nme.com
Tag your tweets with #nmeawards