Britpop veterans Blur saw off competition from fellow reformed rockers the Stone Roses to be named the best live act at the Q Awards.

The band, who headlined the 2012 Games closing concert on August 12, released their debut album 21 years ago and have racked up 13 top 10 hits.

They picked up the award at a ceremony in central London today, but lost out to Muse in the race to be named the best act in the world.

The awards, hosted by comic Al Murray, saw wins for acts including Plan B, Pulp and soul veteran Bobby Womack.

Emeli Sande, who starred in the Olympics closing ceremony, was named best solo artist, while Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr was named a Q hero.

Dance duo Underworld, whose music provided much of the soundtrack to the games opening ceremony, were given the Q innovation in sound award.

The magazine's editor Andrew Harrison said: "It's been the most incredible year for British music. Our bands and our anthems transformed the Olympics.

"A string of great albums announced fantastic new talent on the scene. And amazing comeback shows from Blur and the Stone Roses showed the enduring appeal of our best-loved musicians.

"Q is proud to raise a glass (perhaps a bottle of our very own Q Red Label Beer) to salute the artists that make Britain the world capital of rock and roll."

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• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Karis Anderson, Courtney Rumbold and Alexandra Buggs of Stooshe attend the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards - London

  Matt Berry at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Geno Washington at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Karl Hyde and Rick Smith from Underworld with the innovation in sound award at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Dominic Howard, Dominic Howard and Matthew Bellamy with the The Best Act In The World Today award at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Emeli Sande with the Best Solo Artist award at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Dominic Howard, Dominic Howard and Matthew Bellamy with the The Best Act In The World Today award at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Emeli Sande with the Best Solo Artist award at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Dexys Midnight Runners with the Icon award at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Dionne Warwick with the Classic Song award at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Graham Coxon, Damon Albarn, Dave Rowntree and Alex James of Blur attend the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Siobhan Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan attend the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards - London

  Kylie Minogue at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Kylie Minogue attends the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Kylie Minogue attends the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Kylie Minogue attends the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards - London

  Emeli Sande at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Lianne La Havas at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Kylie Minogue at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Matthew Bellamy, Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard from Muse at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Stooshe,(left to right) Karis Anderson, Courtney Rumbold and Alex Buggs at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  The Maccabees at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Matthew Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard of Muse attend the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Emeli Sande attends the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Professor Green attends the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Emeli Sande attends the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards - London

  Kevin Rowland (centre) from Dexys Midnight Runners at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Dexys Midnight Runners at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Tom Chaplin and Tim Rice-Oxley from Keane at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  The Cribs at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Tim Burgess at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Kevin Rowland of Dexys Midnight Runners attend the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Nicky Wire and James Dean Bradfield of the Manic Street Preachers attend the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Bobby Womack attends the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Alice Cooper attends the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Alice Cooper and guest attend the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards

  LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Karl Hyde and Rick Smith of Underworld attend the Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

• The Q Awards - London

  Dionne Warwick at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Dionne Warwick at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Bobby Womack at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London

• The Q Awards - London

  Alt-J at the 2012 Q Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London