Monkeys top of the tree for NME nominations

Nick O'Malley, Alex Turner, Jamie Cook and Matt Helders of Arctic Monkeys, who lead the field for this year's NME Awards

The annual music bash sees the Yorkshire quartet competing for a haul of top awards, with nearest rivals Haim – the Californian all-sister trio – up for six prizes. Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke are among the figures nominated for the “villain of the year” title, alongside David Cameron, Vladimir Putin, Harry Styles and Russell Brand.

The event is being staged at the O2 Academy in Brixton, south London, on February 26 and sees Arctic Monkeys up for best British band, best live band, best album for fifth release AM and best track for single Do I Wanna Know?.

In addition, Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High? is up for best video, their Glastonbury Festival headline slot is up for music moment of the year, singer Alex Turner is shortlisted for hero of the year and they are nominated for best fan community.

David Bowie, who made an acclaimed comeback last year after a decade-long silence, is also among the nominees for hero of the year, along with his old collaborator Lou Reed, who died last year.