Winehouse's first post Grammy act
Amy Winehouse and Paul McCartney set their recent troubles aside to steal the show Wednesday at the Brit Awards, the British music industry's most prestigious prizes.
Rockers Foo Fighters and British bands Take That and Arctic Monkeys were all double winners at Britain's equivalent of the Grammys.
Although she wasn't up for any awards, troubled retro-soul diva Winehouse received a rapturous reception when she appeared to perform Valerie with Mark Ronson. She followed that up with the sultry ballad Love is a Losing Game from her breakthrough album Back to Black. Winehouse, who appeared composed and confident, urged the crowd at Earl's Court arena to make some noise for my Blake. Winehouse's husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, is in prison awaiting trial for assault and lying to police.
Winehouse, 24, has had a tumultuous 12 months since she was named best female British act at last year's Brits. She won five Grammys earlier this month - a rare high point in a year of erratic behavior, canceled concerts, tabloid headlines and a spell in drug rehab.
McCartney, who has spent the last week in court trying to settle his acrimonious divorce from Heather Mills, closed the show with a crowd-pleasing medley of hits, including Hey Jude and Live and Let Die a song he co-wrote with his late first wife Linda.
Accepting a lifetime achievement award, the former Beatle said, ''I just think British music is the best''.
Grown-up boy band Take That took the British single of the year prize for its song Shine and also was named best live act.
The band which split in 1996 but reformed a decade later minus original member Robbie Williams joked about its members' advancing years.
''I'm 37 years old, I've got an arthritic knee,'' band member Jason Orange said.
The spiky pop quartet Arctic Monkeys was named British group of the year and also took the British album of the year prize for Favourite Worst Nightmare.
