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Q Awards 2011: U2 Named 'Greatest Act In 25 Years' - Do You Agree? (PHOTOS)

First Posted: 24/10/11 17:12 BST Updated: 25/10/11 11:56 BST   PA

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Irish rock band U2 were honoured today as the greatest act of the past quarter of a century.

The band were chosen by readers of music magazine Q as the top artists of the past 25 years at its annual awards.

Chart-topping act Adele was a double winner at the event, landing the prizes for best female and best track for her hit Rolling In The Deep.

The record-breaking singer's win comes just a fortnight after she was forced to pull the plug on a US tour due to problems with her throat which had threatened to wreck her voice irreparably.

Quick Poll

Do you think U2 are the greatest act of the past 25 years?

Yes

No

Other big winners included Coldplay, who were named the best act in the world today, and Take That's Gary Barlow, who was rewarded with an honorary prize as classic songwriter for his two decades of hits.

U2's award was a special prize to mark Q's 25th anniversary this year. The band are currently promoting a reissue of their "rebirth" album Achtung Baby, to mark 20 years since its release.

The best album prize went to Bon Iver - the pseudonym of US singer-songwriter Justin Vernon - for his self-titled second release, while Brit-winning star Tinie Tempah continued his run of success by taking the best male award.

Former Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher - currently number one in the album chart with his solo debut - was named Q Icon. And pioneering punk star Siouxsie Sioux was rewarded for her outstanding contribution to music.

The awards at London's Grosvenor House Hotel also saw rock legends Queen given the hall of fame award, in a year which marks the band's 40th anniversary.

Singer Jessie J landed the best video title for her Do It Like A Dude single, but she missed out on the breakthrough prize, which went to Ed Sheeran.

Full list of winners and photos:

Breakthrough artist - Ed Sheeran

Best new act - WU LYF

Q classic songwriter - Gary Barlow

Best track - Adele, Rolling In The Deep

Q innovation in sound - Kaiser Chiefs

Q inspiration - Fatboy Slim

Q next big thing - Lana Del Rey

Best video - Jessie J, Do It Like A Dude

Best album - Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Best live act - Biffy Clyro

Q classic song - Snow Patrol, Chasing Cars

Q icon - Noel Gallagher

Q best male artist - Tinie Tempah

Q best female artist - Adele

Q outstanding contribution to music - Siouxsie Sioux

Best act in the world today - Coldplay

Hall of fame - Queen

Greatest act of the past 25 years - U2

SLIDESHOW: See the stars at the Q Awards


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Irish rock band U2 were honoured today as the greatest act of the past quarter of a century. The band were chosen by readers of music magazine Q as the top artists of the past 25 years at its annua...
Irish rock band U2 were honoured today as the greatest act of the past quarter of a century. The band were chosen by readers of music magazine Q as the top artists of the past 25 years at its annua...
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lohengrin97
5 Fans
10:55 AM on 10/25/2011
Just to say how poor became rock music after the mid 70'
Led Zep was the last great rock band. Everything declined after that.
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BeeJayCeee
I still loathe Thatcher
144 Fans
10:09 AM on 10/25/2011
U2 are little more than a pub band.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Good to know
39 Fans
03:34 AM on 10/25/2011
No. And a lot more poverty stricken people would be helped if Bono would stop sheltering his fortune and pay his long overdue taxes in Ireland.
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martevans
16 Fans
 
02:12 AM on 10/25/2011
Nope but it's "Q". Who else were they going to pick?
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Feurio
Religion poisons everything
623 Fans
01:10 AM on 10/25/2011
No.
I'd rather go with depeche mode, einsturzende neubauten, nick cave and the bad seeds over u2.

u2 has made plenty of good songs though.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
alsm9
Bombshell
470 Fans
08:38 PM on 10/24/2011
No. It should be the Cure. Not as mainstream, but way more influencial.

And seriously? "Q classic song - Snow Patrol, Chasing Cars" WEIRD!
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Alazarin
13 Fans
08:35 PM on 10/24/2011
Hawkwind.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Steven Kippel
93 Fans
05:09 PM on 10/24/2011
They clearly are. Bands are still aping their sound from 30 years ago. Without U2, there is no Radiohead and no Coldplay. And they're still writing new, relevant material, which is more than we can say for the other popular bands in the early and mid 80s.

I don't think Guns and Roses or Megadeth count.
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