One Direction wins big but doesn’t show up at MTV European Music Awards

Katy Parry among other notable absentees from the award show’s 20th edition.

GLASGOW: Boy-band sensation One Direction was one of the biggest winners at the MTV Europe Music Awards but unfortunately, the group failed to turn up at the awards, held in Glasgow on November 9.

Several high-profile musicians, such as pop stars Katy Perry and Justin Bieber, were amongst the notable absentees from the fireworks-filled ceremony, which was lit up by performances from rapper Nicki Minaj.

The Anaconda singer not only performed but also won an award whilst hosting. She picked up the award for Best Hip Hop and also performed some of her best-known songs in a colourful medley, featuring trademark bubblegum pink ribbons and suggestive dancing.



The absence of the British boy-band was made up by rock veterans Ozzy Osbourne, U2 and Slash, who  gave the show a grizzled edge. Despite this, most of the fans in the arena were more energetic during the performances of the younger musicians.

One Direction, which is famous for its dedicated and loyal global global fan base, won the Best Pop, Best Live and Biggest Fans awards at the ceremony. The band however, apologised for being unable to collect their awards in person in a video message to their fans.

The award show which has entered its 20^th year,was staged in SSE Hydro in Glasgow which has a capacity of 13,000 people. The city was hosting MTV’s flagship European awards show for the first time.

In the absence of some more established acts, singer-songwriter Ariana Grande flourished, winning her first two MTV European Music Awards and also serving as the opening act of the show.

The newcomer beat renowned artists Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj to win Best Female, and her song Problem featuring rapper Iggy Azalea, won Best Song ahead of Pharrell Williams’ triple-platinum hit Happy.

Katy Perry, who is currently on tour in Australia, thanked her ‘Katy Cat’ fans after winning Best Look and Best Video, while Canadian Bieber netted the award for Best Male.

With many winners unable to perform, Irish rock U2 veterans did a tender, piano-led version of the ballad Every Breaking Wave from their recently released album Songs of Innocence.

Heavy metal and reality TV star Ozzy Osbourne collected a Global Icon award, and the show ended with a tribute to the artist also known as the ‘Prince of Darkness’ with guitarist Slash teaming up with Myles Kennedy and Simon Neil of Scottish band, Biffy Clyro to perform Osborne’s Crazy Train, accompanied by flames and an indoor firework display. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2014.

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