The Cribs - The Cribs To Be Honoured For Contribution To Music

The rockers have been named the recipients of the 2013 NME Teenage Cancer Trust Outstanding Contribution to Music Award and have likened the accolade to receiving a Purple Heart military medal, given to killed or wounded American soldiers.

They tell Nme magazine, "It's a tremendous honour, and something that you never really dream of when first starting out as three maladjusted weirdos from the middle of nowhere.

"It's almost like a Purple Heart in some ways - recognition for your time in the trenches and varying degrees of suffering, not sure there were too many acts of bravery, but if anything, we hope that people remember the fact that we always tried to negotiate this strange and oftentimes sleazy industry with an ethic rooted in Diy (do it yourself) - trying to forge your own path rather than riding the gravy train... so that makes this all the sweeter. Thanks a lot."

Nme editor Mike Williams adds, "We're incredibly proud to salute their achievements by honouring them with this award. They truly are outstanding as well as inspiring, and we're looking forward to staying with them every step of the way for another 10 years."

The group will be presented with the trophy at the Nme Awards ceremony, where they are nominated in the Best Live Band and Best Band categories. The awards will be handed in London on 27 February (13).