Spice Girls reunion beats Led Zep as The Vodaphone awards - see all the winners

The Spice Girls have beaten Led Zeppelin to an award for the best music reunion of the last 12 months.

The girl group won best live return at the Vodafone Live Music Awards after getting back together for a world tour.

It was judged to have been better than the one-off comeback by rock legends Led Zeppelin, with The Verve and James also nominated.

Primal Scream picked up two of the top awards - for best live act and outstanding contribution to live music.

The show took place at Brixton Academy, with the rock venue lending it something of the atmosphere of a sweaty gig rather than a staid ceremony.

But the event did not just focus on rock bands, with pop acts like The Pussycat Dolls, Will Young and James Morrison performing alongside indie groups Glasvegas, The Automatic and Primal Scream.

Primal Scream are veterans of the live scene, having performed together for 25 years. They closed the show with three tunes, culminating in their 1994 indie classic Rocks.

They beat The Verve, Muse and the Kaiser Chiefs to the prize for best live act.

Accepting their second prize, bassist Mani said to the crowd: "What's this one for again? Outstanding contribution, was it? That will do."

The nominees were chosen by a panel of judges, with the winners decided by a public vote.

Emma Bunton was the only Spice Girl present, and said she was "a bit shocked" to beat such venerable rock acts as Led Zeppelin.

"We had a great time," she said of the comeback tour. "So I just feel very lucky that I had the opportunity to do it again."

The pop group's victory will raise eyebrows among rock fans, but Bunton told the BBC News website: "The thing is, when you go to a gig, you go for fun and entertainment and a night out.

"And that's exactly what we did and I think that's why people enjoyed it so much."

But she said she did not think the prize would encourage the fivesome to get back together again because they all had "other priorities".

Mark Ronson was named best live male after taking his album Version on the road with a host of guest vocalists. He beat Dizzee Rascal, Morrissey and Paul Weller.

Kate Nash won best female, triumphing over Amy Winehouse, Duffy and Estelle.

Take That's latest shows earned them the trophy for tour of the year, while The Ting Tings picked up best breakthrough act.

Glastonbury headliners Kings of Leon were named best international live act, with T in the Park winning best festival.

Other celebrities at the event included Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, who was watching his girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger perform with The Pussycat Dolls.

Former Blur bassist-turned-cheesemaker Alex James was also at the event, but said: "I am getting it bit old for it all now. It's not my music any more."


Best Live Male: Mark Ronson
Best Live Female: Kate Nash
Best Live Act: Primal Scream
Best Live Return: Spice Girls
XFM Live Breakthrough Act: The Ting Tings
4Music Festival Of the Year: T In The Park
Live And Unsigned Awards: Kiddo360
Best International Live Act: Kings Of Leon
Sony Ericsson Tour Of The Year: Take That Arena Tour
Outstanding Contribution To Live Music: Primal Scream