Creed captures four awards at VH1 show

Members of the band Creed accept the award for group of the year

In this story: And the best video goes too ... Martin takes 'Booty Shake' RELATED STORY, SITE

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Newcomer Creed was the big winner with four awards in the "My VH1 Music Awards" in which categories were designed and decided by viewers voting online.

Thursday was a coming out party for the band, which came into the show with a leading nine nominations. The group was given the breakout award "Welcome To The Big Time"; song of the year for its hit single "Higher"; group of the year award; and the "2 For 2" award by voters who determined its second album was as good as its first. The latter was one of a handful of awards announced only online and not on television.

"We got nine nominations. We're pretty much nominated for everything. We can't complain," Scott Stapp, the group's lead singer, said shortly after accepting the first of the group's awards.

Veteran rockers otherwise dominated the evening, with Metallica, Santana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers collecting two awards each and Bon Jovi one.

Since VH1's target audience of 25-to-34-year-olds is older than MTV's demographic, the show was a comparatively sedate affair. But it still offered a few memorable, if not raunchy, moments.

Host John Leguizamo opened the show with an Eminem-style rap, making sexual innuendoes about Britney Spears, Mandy Moore and Christina Aguilera.

"I've been to bed with Britney. I've been to bed with Mandy. I couldn't get Christina, so I did her brother Andy," he sang.

Aguilera and Spears, who was accompanied by 'N Sync's Justin Timberlake, were both in the audience.

But for the most part, the show was a mature affair.

Musical performances by U2, which opened the show with its new single "Beautiful Day," and Bon Jovi brought the audience to its feet.

U2's Bono brings the crowd to its feet with 'Beautiful Day'

Bon Jovi won for video of the year for "It's My Life," which it also performed.

"We've been around longer than VH1," said lead singer Jon Bon Jovi, accepting the award.

Carlos Santana, who also has been around longer than VH1, won for man of the year.

"Hopefully I can win the father of the year award next year. I'm going to work really, really hard and not upset my children or my wife," the veteran rocker said backstage.

In addition to traditional categories, viewers also gave "awards" for Sexxxiest video and most entertaining public feud, the latter awarded to foul-mouthed rapper Eminem for feuding with everybody -- including his mother. He was not at the event and Leguizamo sort of accepted on his behalf.

"How bad do you have to be to get sued by your moms? Charles Manson never got sued by his moms. Pol Pot never got sued by his moms," he said.

Viewers also gave Ricky Martin the "Booty Shake" award for his buns-shaking performance in "Shake Your Bon Bon." A man wearing a large head piece shaped like a behind accepted it for him.

Country singer Faith Hill was named woman of the year and was awarded Sexxxiest Video for "Breathe"

Nearly 3 million people voted, according to VH1.

Metallica tested the online voting process, pledging to perform whichever song was selected by viewers. Moments before the group took the stage, online voters selected the song "Fade To Black" and Metallica obliged.

"We were prepared for anything," said singer James Hetfield. "I actually wrote a message on the Web site: Do you really want to hear (the song) 'Sandman' again. That was kind of a hint."

The Red Hot Chili Peppers "Californication" was named "must-have" album.

Copyright 2000 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Voters cast last-minute ballots for VH1 Awards
November 30, 2000

VH1.com

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