KAISER CHIEFS - KAISER CHIEFS HAVE A RIOT AT BRITS

English rockers KAISER CHIEFS were big winners at last night's (15FEB06) Brit Awards, picking up three trophies at the London ceremony.

The Leeds band opened the star-studded bash at the British capital's Earls Court venue with a performance of their mega-hit I PREDICT A RIOT, before going on to win British Group, British Rock Act and British Live Act.

After beating FRANZ FERDINAND, HARD-FI, KASABIAN and OASIS to claim British Rock Act, frontman RICKY WILSON said, "This is our first Brits. We weren't meant to win this one. This means the world."

Following close behind, COLDPLAY, JAMES BLUNT and GREEN DAY picked up two gongs each.

CHRIS MARTIN's band picked up Mastercard British Album for their third disc X+Y and British Single for SPEED OF SOUND, while punk trio Green Day collected their wins via videophone for International Group and International Album for AMERICAN IDIOT.

Singer/songwriter JAMES BLUNT capped off his breakthrough year beating ANTHONY AND THE JOHNSONS, IAN BROWN, ROBBIE WILLIAMS and WILL YOUNG to win British Male Solo Artist and Pop Act.

Superstar MADONNA accepted her International Female Solo Artist gong from Martin, husband of her close pal GWYNETH PALTROW, who paid tribute to the MATERIAL GIRL as "someone who makes everyone's marriage go funny".

Hip-hop star KANYE WEST sexed up the ceremony by performing a melody of his hits, including DIAMONDS FROM SIERRA LEONE and GOLD DIGGER, with 77 women covered in gold spray paint and g-string bikinis. The rapper was later named International Male Solo Artist.

Performers on the night included Coldplay, Blunt, KT TUNSTALL and KELLY CLARKSON and PRINCE, who performed his megahit PURPLE RAIN.

Former THE JAM rocker PAUL WELLER was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution To Music accolade, which was presented to SIR BOB GELDOF last year (05). Weller ended the night with a melody of his hits, including CHANGING MAN and A TOWN CALLED MALICE.

The full list of winners is:

British Male Solo Artist: JAMES BLUNT

British Female Solo Artist: KT TUNSTALL

British Group: KAISER CHIEFS

Mastercard British Album: COLDPLAY - X+Y

British Single: COLDPLAY - SPEED OF SOUND

British Breakthrough Act: ARCTIC MONKEYS

British Urban Act: LEMAR

British Rock Act: KAISER CHIEFS

British Live Act: KAISER CHIEFS

Pop Act: JAMES BLUNT

International Male Solo Artist: KANYE WEST

International Female Solo Artist: MADONNA

International Group: GREEN DAY

International Album: GREEN DAY - AMERICAN IDIOT

International Breakthrough Act: JACK JOHNSON

Outstanding Contribution To Music: PAUL WELLER.