LONDON, UK (Kerrang! magazine) - Flamboyant British group The
Darkness were the only band to win two awards at the UK's biggest heavy rock ceremony, the Kerrang! Awards, on Thursday. They won best album and best live act - but missed out on a hat trick as Welsh group
Funeral For A Friend beat them to the title of best British newcomer.
Feeder won the best British act title - and dedicated it to their former drummer Jon Lee, who died last year.
And nu-metal band Linkin Park won best international act while veteran rockers Metallica were inducted into the magazine's hall of fame.
More than 500 Kerrang! readers saw The Darkness, who supported Robbie Williams at Knebworth, open the magazine's 10th annual ceremony.
Fireworks lit the stage at London's Royal Lancaster Hotel as they performed their next single, I Believe In A Thing Called Love. Their debut album, Permission To Land, is in its sixth week in the top 10 after peaking at number two and going gold.
Collecting the award for best live act, guitarist Dan Hawkins said: "It's absolutely fantastic. It's been a great evening."
Picking up their prize, Feeder singer Grant Nicholas said: "I dedicated it to Jon because he always wanted to win and he always thought we should have won. I've been thinking about him a lot recently. He's here in spirit."
US group Metallica were welcomed into Kerrang!'s hall of fame alongside previous inductees like Ozzy Osbourne, Queen, AC/DC and Iggy Pop.
Singer, James Hetfield, said: "We are in quite good company. "I never thought it would happen - it's a dream you never really think will."
A new award, for the spirit of rock, was introduced to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the awards and was won by MTV show Jackass.
The best single award went to Maryland four-piece Good Charlotte for Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous while the Red Hot Chili Peppers took the classic songwriter trophy.
And chart-topping Arkansas band Evanescence won best international newcomer.
Kerrang! Awards 2003 winners
Best international newcomer: Evanescence
Best British newcomer: Funeral For A Friend
Best album: The Darkness - Permission To Land
Best British act: Feeder
Best international act: Linkin Park
Hall of fame: Metallica
Best single: Good Charlotte - Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous
Best video: Electric Six - Gay Bar
Event of the year: Download festival
Classic songwriter: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Spirit of independence: Turbonegro
Best live act: The Darkness
Spirit of rock: Jackass
