Black Sabbath honored with Classic Rock's legend award

Heavy metal stars Black Sabbath triumphed at this year's Classic Rock Roll of Honour, picking up three prizes including the living legend award, BBC News reported.

The Birmingham band also won album of the year for 13 and event of the year, after 13 topped album charts worldwide and scored them their biggest US hit.

Previous living legend winners include ZZ top, Jimmy Page and Iggy Pop.

Other winners announced at this year's London ceremony include Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Fleetwood Mac.

Following their Hyde Park live shows and a Glastonbury headline set this summer The Rolling Stones were named band of the year, while best new band went to The Temperance Movement.

Manic Street Preachers founding member and guitarist James Dean Bradfield was named winner of the Musicians' Union Maestro Award.

Justin Hawkins, Frank Poullain, and Dan Hawkins of The Darkness joined the stars at the London event

Late Irish guitar legend Rory Gallagher was honoured with the Tommy Vance Inspiration Award and The Virginmarys won the Breakthrough Award.

Shep Gordon, manager of Alice Cooper for more than 40 years, was honoured with a special VIP Award.

The prize also recognises his work as a film producer and humanitarian, and how he has helped to sculpt the careers of a host of friends in the entertainment industry.

A documentary film charting Gordon's career, directed by Mike Myers and entitled SuperMensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon, recently premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.

"This year's winners are a who's-who of British pioneers," said Classic Rock Magazine's editor-in-chief Scott Rowley.

"And with the Temperance Movement and Virginmarys coming through there's still hope for the future of British rock too."

Now in their ninth year, the awards were handed out during a ceremony at Camden's Roundhouse, hosted by former Marillion frontman Fish.

Five of the categories were voted for by readers including re-issue of the year, which was won by Fleetwood Mac's 35th anniversary edition of Rumours, and film of the year won by Led Zeppelin's Celebration Day.