Brits judges furious at 'best live act' snub to Pink Floyd

Their reunion after more than 20 years was widely regarded as one of the musical highlights of the past 12 months. But rock veterans Pink Floyd have been snubbed by this year's Brit Awards, with the band failing to make the shortlist for the year's best live acts.

Robbie Williams, who like Floyd performed at Live 8, has also been left out of the live nominations, which were announced yesterday.

Pink Floyd re-formed, with bass player Roger Waters joining guitarist David Gilmour and the rest of the band for the first time since 1981 when they played the awareness-raising concert at Hyde Park in July 2005.

Most of the panel of judges who decided Brits live nominations recommended the band should go on the shortlist, with several also choosing Williams. But they were told they had to choose performers who had drawn a paying audience - both the acts played only at Live 8 last year, where tickets were free.

One judge said: "It is ridiculous. Pink Floyd's performance was clearly one of the biggest talking points of 2005 in the music world."

The shortlist is made up of Oasis, KT Tunstall, Kaiser Chiefs, Coldplay and Franz Ferdinand. The other categories' shortlists will be announced on Tuesday.