No Mercury Music Prize for Arctic Monkeys as Wolf Alice take the prestigious gong

Wolf Alice have won the 2018 Hyundai Mercury Prize for their album Visions Of A Life, beating off the challenge of fellow nominees including Sheffield heroes Arctic Monkeys and Noel Gallagher.
Joff Oddie, Ellie Rowsell, Theo Ellis and Joel Amey of Wolf Alice celebrate winning the 2018 Hyundai Mercury Music Prize, held at the Eventim Apollo, London.  Ian West/PA WireJoff Oddie, Ellie Rowsell, Theo Ellis and Joel Amey of Wolf Alice celebrate winning the 2018 Hyundai Mercury Music Prize, held at the Eventim Apollo, London.  Ian West/PA Wire
Joff Oddie, Ellie Rowsell, Theo Ellis and Joel Amey of Wolf Alice celebrate winning the 2018 Hyundai Mercury Music Prize, held at the Eventim Apollo, London. Ian West/PA Wire

Arctic Monkeys, in their home city this week for a series of sold-out gigs at the FlyDSA Arena, had their critically acclaimed, if somewhat divisive, album Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino put up for the prize.

It was the band's fourth nomination, with debut Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not winning the prize in 2006.

Arctic Monkeys playing at the FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield on Tuesday September 18th 2018. Picture: Chris EtchellsArctic Monkeys playing at the FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield on Tuesday September 18th 2018. Picture: Chris Etchells
Arctic Monkeys playing at the FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield on Tuesday September 18th 2018. Picture: Chris Etchells
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It was the second time winners Wolf Alice had been in the running for the prestigious prize after their debut My Love Is Cool was shortlisted in 2015.

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Ellie Rowsell collected the award, saying: "This means so much to pick this up with my three best friends."

Bass player Theo Ellis added: "When we first started as a band I remember the first label meeting we ever had, we walked into a room and the geezer said 'You don't look like a band at all, what are you? What are you supposed to be? All your songs sound different, you don't look like each other'.

"We never really figured it out, but here we are so **** you.

Wolf Alice accept the 2018 Hyundai Mercury Music Prize, held at the Eventim Apollo, London.  Ian West/PA WireWolf Alice accept the 2018 Hyundai Mercury Music Prize, held at the Eventim Apollo, London.  Ian West/PA Wire
Wolf Alice accept the 2018 Hyundai Mercury Music Prize, held at the Eventim Apollo, London. Ian West/PA Wire
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"He also said he didn't want to work with women who wore make-up because it was a bunch of fuss, and here we are and I actually can't believe it.

"Noel Gallagher is sat there looking at me, what are you supposed to say?

"Big up everyone who is nominated, thank-you so much to everyone who has ever supported us or come to a show, this means the world."

Before returning to the stage to perform with the band again, he asked the crowd: "Has anyone got a Jagerbomb?"

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The event saw live performances from some of the 12 shortlisted acts, including Florence and The Machine, Jorja Smith and Nadine Shah.

Also in the running for the award were Everything Everything, Everything Is Recorded, King Krule, Novelist and Sons of Kemet.

The shortlist, which aims to celebrate and promote the best of UK music and recognise artistic achievement across an eclectic range of contemporary music genres, was chosen by an independent panel of judges.

The Mercury Prize was first given out in 1992 to Primal Scream for Screamadelica, and last year's winner was Process by singer and record producer Sampha.

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