After snub to Mercury, Gorillaz get MTV vote

Gorillaz, Damon Albarn's latest musical venture who snubbed a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize, have been nominated for six MTV Europe awards.

Created as a side project by the Blur singer and his friend, the illustrator Jamie Hewlett, the band appear as cartoon characters in their videos and live performances. They were officially taken off the Mercury Music Prize shortlist after dismissing their nomination as an "albatross" around their necks.

They have already attended the American MTV awards and are likely to make the journey to Frankfurt on 8 November for the European ceremony, to be hosted by Ali G.

Others nominated include Dido, Craig David, REM, U2 and Limp Bizkit, who have four nominations each. Robbie Williams is competing for two awards.