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SYDNEY - Hollywood actor Jared Leto's band, 30 Seconds to Mars, and pop singer Pink took top honours at last night's MTV Video Music Awards in Sydney - each winning two awards.
30 Seconds To Mars won best rock video and video of the year for their track
The Kill (Bury Me), which they performed at the awards.
The emo-punkers featured on a star-studded bill mostly featuring award winners with the notable exception of rapper Snoop Dogg, who was unable to accept his awards for best hip-hop video after he was banned by immigration authorities from entering Australia on character grounds.
Another guest performer, Pink, whose real name is Alecia Moore, won two awards for best female artist for her cheeky U and Ur Hand and download of the year for her track Who Knew.
Perhaps the most prestigious award of the night went to Newcastle rockers Silverchair, who were the inaugural winners of the Video Vanguard Award, a hall of fame style award for a band or performer who has made a lasting impact on the MTV generation through their music.
The band also performed a track from their fifth No.1 album, The New Modern.
Singer-songwriter Teddy Geiger won the spankin' new artist award for his loving pop lament, For You I Will (Confidence), and performed.
The show's co-hosts US band Good Charlotte and Fergie, singer for The Black Eyed Peas, were well chosen by producers as they were clearly favourites with MTV viewers, who decided the winners for most of the show.
Good Charlotte was the viewers choice award while Fergie won sexiest video for her solo effort away from her chart-topping band on Fergalicious.
Continuing the American domination of the awards was Evanescence who won album of the year for their latest effort, The Open Door.
But there was an Australian contingent.
Australian Idol's first runner-up Shannon Noll was voted best male artist for his track Lonely. Guy Sebastian, the first Australian Idol, won best pop video for his track Elevator Love, which features former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins as his lover.
Best dance video was claimed by DJ Fedde Le Grand for Put Your Hands Up for Detroit while the best hook up - meaning collaboration between two artists - was won by Justin Timberlake and Timbaland who worked together on the ubiquitous radio track SexyBack.
Best group was Red Hot Chili Peppers for Dani California.
Other performers included Australian bands Eskimo Joe, Evermore, Sneaky Sound System and Australian Idol's latest winner, Damien Leith.
- AAP