McCartney in line for special honour

The former Beatle will be given the honour at the NME Awards later this month after the weekly music paper decided to give him the accolade after approaching a number of musicians who were united in naming him as being unmatchable in his craft.

Sir Paul is to attend the event which is being staged on Wednesday next week at London’s O2 Academy in Brixton, to collect his Songwriter’s Songwriter award.

The NME’s editor, Mike Williams, said: “We’ve spoken to the biggest and best musicians around, and they’ve told us Paul McCartney is the world’s ultimate songwriter.

“Paul’s enduring and stunning talent is worth celebrating, and I’m incredibly honoured that NME are giving him the special, one-of-its-kind Songwriter’s Songwriter award to recognise that.”

Another honorary prize at the awards will go to Belle & Sebastian, who have been chosen for the Outstanding Contribution To Music Award.

The group’s lead singer, Stuart Murdoch, said: “We’re the Status Quo of indie, we’re still here.”

The US band Blondie will collect the Godlike Genius prize, while Blur frontman Damon Albarn will be given the innovation award.

BBC Radio 1 presenter Huw Stephens will host the event.

Guinness World Records has described Sir Paul as the “most successful composer and recording artist of all time”, with 60 gold discs and sales of more than 100m albums and 100 million singles.

email [email protected]