Duffy sweeps BRIT pop awards, Coldplay out in cold

HEAVY METAL IS BACK

In other categories, heavy metal veterans Iron Maiden were the surprise winners of the best British live act award.

U.S. band Kings of Leon, whose record sales in Britain and Australia eclipse those in their home country, were the other multiple winners on the night, when they scooped the international group and international album categories.

"We have to give this to England," said frontman Caleb Followill after receiving the album prize. "If it weren't for England, Kings of Leon wouldn't be a band right now. You created Kings of Leon and good luck getting rid of us."

U.S. performer Katy Perry won best international female act and compatriot Kanye West was named best international male.

"That means in every nation I'm the best male," he said in a video message.

The British male solo artist prize went to Paul Weller while Girls Aloud won the public vote for best British single with the track they performed on the night, "The Promise."

Organisers have highlighted the global impact of British music in 2008, underlined by the flurry of Grammys, the industry's most coveted honors.

But English artist Robert Plant, former lead singer of Led Zeppelin who picked up five Grammys for his acclaimed collaboration with bluegrass singer Alison Krauss, was snubbed by the BRITs, receiving no nominations.

Florence & the Machine won the critics' choice award while the Pet Shop Boys received an award for outstanding contribution to music, and wound up the show by performing a medley of some of their biggest hits.