AC/DC and Mark Knopfler to receive top honours at O2 Silver Clef Awards in London

They will attend the ceremony in July

Mark Knopfler and Brian Johnson
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 31st May 2024

AC/DC and Mark Knopfler will both receive top honours at the O2 Silver Clef Awards in London this summer.

The 48th annual music award ceremony will take place at Grosvenor House Hotel on London's Park Lane on Friday 5th July 2024.

Brian Johnson will attend the ceremony to pick up AC/DC’s Legend Award, which honours the band’s fabled 50 year career and continued influence.

Organisers say: ‘Pioneering global rockers AC/DC will win the Legend Award, acknowledging five decades of the iconic band, whose huge impact on the industry still reverberates through today's rock musicians.’

Brian Johnson says of AC/DC’s gong: "We're over the moon to receive the Amazon Music Legend Award.

“As a band, we've been dishing out our own brand of music therapy for the past five decades, so to hear all about how Nordoff and Robbins helps the young and the old with the power of music is something that we understand and salute. Thank you for this honour."

AC/DC will be in England for their two colossal sold-out concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium.

Brian Johnson on stage with AC/DC in May 2024

Brian Johnson’s good pal and TV co-host, Mark Knopfler, will receive the Music Icon Award at the ceremony.

Mark Knopfler says: "I am honoured to have been chosen to receive the Icon Award at this year's O2 Silver Clefs. It's a privilege to support an event that is directly part of such important music therapy work.

“One of the best parts of being an artist is meeting people who have been touched by your music. I think we have all appreciated the power of music in our own lives from time to time. Nordoff and Robbins believes in sharing the value of music with everyone who needs it – that's why I'm a longtime supporter and will continue to help raise funds so Nordoff and Robbins' music therapists can continue their vital work."

Elsewhere, Blur will pick up the main O2 Silver Clef Award, and they will join previous recipients including David Bowie, Roger Waters, Paul McCartney, George Michael, Annie Lennox, Dame Shirley Bassey, The Rolling Stones, Oasis and Coldplay.

The O2 Silver Clef Awards raises vital funds for Nordoff and Robbins to support a wide range of children and adults. The charity's trained music therapists enable connection and communication through music for people living with autism, dementia, learning difficulties, brain injuries, life-limiting illnesses, mental health challenges, grief and trauma.

The O2 Silver Clef Awards are held to recognise and celebrate the talent of the winning artists and are one of the highlights of the music industry calendar - bringing together artists, labels, management teams and celebrity supporters.

Since 1976 the awards have raised nearly £13 million for Nordoff and Robbins' transformative music therapy services and honoured some of the greatest names in music. Last year's event raised over £612,000 for Nordoff and Robbins, supporting its work with some of the most vulnerable people in society.

The 50 greatest rock singers of all time:

50) Beth Hart


49) Sebastian Bach

Bands a member of: Skid Row, Madam X, Damnocracy, solo artist

48) Elvis Presley


47) Mike Patton

Bands a member of: Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantômas, Tomahawk, Dead Cross, Peeping Tom, Lovage, Kaada/Patton, Hemophiliac, Nevermen

46) Layne Staley

Bands a member of: Alice in Chains, Mad Season, Class of '99

45) Sammy Hagar

Bands a member of: Van Halen, Montrose, Sammy Hagar & the Waboritas, Chickenfoot, Sammy Hagar and the Circle, Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve, Planet Us.

44) Chester Bennington

Bands a member of: Linkin Park, Dead by Sunrise, Grey Daze, Kings of Chaos, Stone Temple Pilots

43) Jon Anderson

Bands a member of: Yes, The Warriors, Mabel Greer's Toyshop, ,Jon and Vangelis, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, Yes featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman

42) Bruce Springsteen


41) David Draiman

Bands a member of: Disturbed

40) James Hetfield

Bands a member of: Metallica

39) Dave Grohl

Bands a member of: Foo Fighters (vocals, guitar); Nirvana, Them Crooked Vultures, Scream, Mondo Generator (drummer and backing vocals); Sound City Players, (vocals, guitar and drums); Probot (lead guitar, drums, bass)

38) Geddy Lee

Bands a member of: Rush, The Big Dirty Band (bass only).

37) Steve Marriott

Bands a member of: Small Faces, Humble Pie, solo artist

36) David Bowie


35) Shane Greenhall

Bands a member of: Those Damn Crows

34) Danny Vaughn

Bands a member of: Tyketto, Waysted, Vaughn, Snake Oil & Harmony, solo

33) Mick Jagger

Bands a member of: The Rolling Stones, From the Inside, The Illegal Eagles, Burning Kingdom

32) Lemmy

Bands a member of: Motörhead, Hawkwind, The Rockin' Vickers, Opal Butterfly, The Damned, The Head Cat, Sam Gopal

31) Jay Buchanan

Bands a member of: Rival Sons

30) Geoff Tate

Bands a member of: Queensrÿche, Operation: Mindcrime, Sweet Oblivion, solo artist

29) Eddie Vedder

Bands a member of: Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog, Hovercraft, Bad Radio

28) Janis Joplin

Bands a member of: A solo artist who also performed with Big Brother and the Holding Company

27) Phil Lynott

Bands a member of: Thin Lizzy, Grand Slam, The Greedies, Skid Row

26) Stevie Nicks

Bands a member of: Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham Nicks and an esteemed solo artist

25) Brian Johnson

Bands a member of: AC/DC, Geordie

24) Glenn Hughes

Bands a member of: Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Trapeze, Black Country Communion, The Dead Daisies, Finders Keepers, Hughes/Thrall, Phenomena, Hughes Turner Project, Michael Men Project, Kings of Chaos, California Breed, solo artist.

23) Brent Smith

Bands a member of: Shinedown, Smith & Myers

22) Roger Daltrey

Bands a member of: The Who

21) Floor Jansen

Bands a member of: Nightwish, Northward

20) Meat Loaf


19) Axl Rose

Bands a member of: Guns N' Roses, Hollywood Rose, L.A. Guns

18) Steven Tyler

Bands a member of: Aerosmith, Chain Reaction

17) Noddy Holder

Bands a member of: Slade

16) Steve Perry

Bands a member of: Journey, solo artist

15) Rob Halford

Bands a member of: Judas Priest, Halford, Fight, 2wo

14) Ozzy Osbourne

Bands a member of: Black Sabbath, solo artist

13) Danny Bowes

Bands a member of: Thunder, Terraplane, Nuthin' Fancy, Bowes & Morley

12) Lzzy Hale

Bands a member of: Halestorm, Skid Row (temporary singer)

11) Bon Scott

Bands a member of: AC/DC, Fraternity, The Valentines, The Spektors

10) Chris Cornell

Bands a member of: Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog, solo artist

9) Ian Gillan

Bands a member of: Deep Purple, Gillan, Black Sabbath, The Javelins, Episode Six, Ian Gillan Band, Gillan & Glover, WhoCares

8) Ann Wilson

Bands a member of: Heart, solo artist

7) David Coverdale

Bands a member of: Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Coverdale-Page

6) Bruce Dickinson

Bands a member of: Iron Maiden, Samson, solo artist

5) Myles Kennedy

Bands a member of: Alter Bridge, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, Kings of Chaos, solo artist

4) Paul Rodgers

Bands a member of: Free, Bad Company, The Firm, The Law, Queen + Paul Rodgers, solo artist

3) Robert Plant

Bands a member of: Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Band of Joy, The Honeydrippers, various solo bands

2) Ronnie James Dio

Bands a member of: Dio, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, Rainbow, Elf, Ronnie & The Red Caps, Ronnie Dio & The Prophets, The Electric Elves, The Elves

1) Freddie Mercury

Bands a member of: Queen, Ibex Sour, Milk Sea

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