Entertainment

Getxo band We Are Standard won ''2009 MTV Award to the Best Spanish Band'' at the European section Awards of the American TV channel awards ''MTV Europe Music Awards'' last night.

The band prevailed over Spanish groups Fangoria, Russian Red, Nena Daconte and Macaco, in a ceremony attended by artists such as Shakira, Beyoncé or Lady Gaga.

The ceremony took place in the ''O2 World Arena'' in Berlin and was presented by the Welsh singer-songwriter Katy Perry. Shakira, the Irish band U2 and German band Tokio Hotel among others performed at the gala.

We are Standard, a Basque punk-funk and dance-rock band was born in Getxo (Biscay) in 2002 and has five members: Deu Txakartegi, Jon Agirrezabalaga, Javi Leta, D.W.Farringdon and Juan Escribano. Their first album, 3.000 V-40.000 W, was published by the record Company Mushroom Pillow in March 2006 and obtained public recognition and acclaim, though their real success came in with the release of their second album, We Are Standard, produced by the guitarist Andy Gill (of the English band Gang Of Four).

During the gala, in which the American singer Beyoncé won the main awards (''Best female artist'', ‘Best song'' and ''Best video''), the American TV channel paid homage to Michael Jackson, who died in Los Angeles in June after suffering cardiac arrest .