FOO FIGHTERS - FOO FIGHTERS CLAIM BEST ALBUM AT NME AWARDS USA

The Foo Fighters have won the inaugural album of the year gong at the NME awards USA.

Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace beat off stiff competition from Because of the Times by Kings of Leon, the White Stripes' Icky Thump and Sawdust from the Killers.

In a video message the Dave Grohl-fronted group told fans at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles: "Number one record - thanks very much for that.

"It's good to see NME making its way over here into the states, because they've been good friends of ours over in the UK for a long time."

The awards, the first to be organised by NME in the US, also saw Jane's Addiction named this year's godlike geniuses.

To mark the occasion Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and Eric Avery – the band's original lineup - were reunited on stage for the first time in 17 years.

NME editor Conor McNicholas described the band as a "once-in-a-lifetime, inspirational, aspirational, no-holds barred, genre-busting, risk-taking, pioneering group".

Also being honoured in LA last night were the Lemonheads, who saw their 1992 record It's a Shame About Ray given the classic album award, while the Killers won best indie/alternative track for Tranquilize.

Justice picked up the best video award for D.A.N.C.E. and Vampire Weekend were named the best new indie/alternative band.