GERMANY: MTV Europe music awards take place in Munich

The MTV Europe Music Awards kicked off in Munich on Thursday (November 01), with 6,000 fans packed into the Olympia Halle to see acts including the Foo Fighters, Mika, My Chemical Romance, Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty. After an explosive fireworks opening, the Foo Fighters warmed up the crowd, winding up their opening set with a rendition of the Sex Pistols' hit 'God Save the Queen'. On one of the music industry's biggest nights outside the United States, U.S. rapper Snoop Dogg hosted the awards, most of which were decided by online voters. U.S. star Justin Timberlake, who dominated the same show when it was held in Copenhagen last year, is the early frontrunner for major prizes with four nominations. He leads a heavyweight chasing pack who each have three nominations -- Winehouse, Avril Lavigne, Beyonce, Fall Out Boy, Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Nelly Furtado and Rihanna. As well as the awards, the focus will be on live performances. Both Doherty and Winehouse have been in the headlines in recent months for drug-related problems, and Doherty at least seems determined to put his problems behind him. Lebanon-born singer Mika wowed waiting reporters with a garish orange jacket, attached to which was a large diamond he said was worth 6.5 million U.S. dollars. In the coveted Solo Artist category he is up against Canada's Furtado and Lavigne, Barbados-born Rihanna, U.S. star Christina Aguilera and Mika. Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Good Charlotte and Tokio Hotel fought it out for the Band of 2007 award while Album of the Year pits Akon against Winehouse, Lavigne, Linkin Park and Furtado.

ITN Source | November 8, 2007

Tags:. .dollars. .awards. .artist. .acts. .decided