King of  Heavy Metal music Iron Maiden picked up an inspiration award at this year’s Kerrang! Awards.

The band were given the award for their pioneering role in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal which emerged in the the late 1970s.

Their first album was released in 1980 and since then the rockers have had more than a dozen top 10 hits.

Comedian Al Murray was at the event at London’s Troxy Club, and he presented May and Taylor with the Kerrang! Service to Rock award.

Other accolades were given to Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro, who picked up the Best Album award for Opposites, which topped the charts earlier this year.

The event, formally known as the Relentless Kerrang! Awards, is now in its twentieth year.

You Me At Six walked away with the Best Event award for their sold-out show at London’s Wembley Arena.

Sheffield’s Bring Me The Horizon were named Best British Band, while Lower Than Atlantis collected the prize for Best British Newcomer.

Kerry King and Tom Araya, from Slayer, accepted the Kerrang! Legend award in their first UK appearance since the death of bassist and founding member Jeff Hanneman.

Kerrang! magazine editor James McMahon said, “What a night. What a night. People lost shoes. People lost phones. More so, people lost dignity.

“I can’t think of any better way the 20th Relentless Kerrang! Awards could have been celebrated.”

[adrotate banner=”64″]