NEW YORK (CP) -- Alternative rockers Smashing Pumpkins
dominated the 13th annual MTV Music Video Awards show Wednesday
night but Canadian vocalist Alanis Morissette also picked up
multiple honors.
She won best video by a new artist and best female
video for Ironic. Her video also won for best editing.
The rock gala, broadcast live from landmark Radio
City Music Hall, was opened by the Smashing Pumpkins, making
their first television appearance since the drug overdose death
of their keyboardist this summer.
Morissette, 22, of Ottawa, a former child television
actress and later a teen pop singer, released her Grammy
Award-winning album Jagged Little Pill last year.
And isn't this ironic: Morissette doesn't even like
awards, though she allows for the possibility that MTV's are OK.
"It's less formal, there's less pressure to be here,"
she said. But "It still doesn't change the concept of art being
judged. I still don't agree with it."
Smashing Pumpkins, who had eight nominations, the most
of the night, picked up six awards -- best video of the year,
best breakthrough video, best direction, best art direction and
best special effects for Tonight, Tonight, as well as best
alternative video for 1979.
The Smashing Pumpkins suffered the heroin overdose
death of keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin in July and the arrest of
drummer Jimmy Chamberlin on drug charges. He was later fired
from the band.
"We've had an interesting year. We lost a friend. We
lost a drummer. But I hope we haven't lost any fans,"
singer-guitarist Billy Corgan said. "To anyone who wonders,
we're fine."
The Foo Fighters won best group video for Big Me, a parody
of a Mentos candy commercial. Band member Dave Grohl, accepting
the award, called it "some sort of closure" and jokingly asked
the audience to "stop throwing Mentos at our shows."
Grohl and one other member of the Foo Fighters were
once members of Nirvana, which broke up after the suicide
death of lead singer Kurt Cobain.
Other winners included Coolio for best rap video for
Gangsta's Paradise and best dance video for 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin'
New) and Fugees won best R and B video for Killing Me Softly.
Metallica won best hard rock video for Until it Sleeps.
And Beck won best male video for Where It's At.
Broadcast to some 100 countries, including Canada,
and hosted by comedian Dennis Miller, the MTV awards show have
grown to rival the more established Grammys.
Before the show began, bands Garbage, Beck and No
Doubt performed outside on a marquis overlooking Sixth Avenue
in midtown Manhattan. Onlookers crowded the sidewalks for two blocks.
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