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Tuesday January 22, 2008

British rockers the Arctic Monkeys are set to boycott this year’s Brit Award ceremony because of their head-to-head battle with Take That.

The ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare’ rockers have a frosty relationship with their clean-cut rivals and they even came to blows at the Q Awards in 2006, when frontman Alex Turner called Gary Barlow and the boys a “load of b*****ds.”

Now the Monkeys are determined not to run the risk of losing out to the comeback kings live on British television.

Take That – who staged their hugely successful reunion tour in 2006, have been tipped to sweep the board in the Best Group, Single and Album categories – the same gongs the Arctics are up for.

The Arctic’s attitude towards Take That has infuriated Brit bosses, who hoped there might be a chance that the Sheffield foursome would perform at the bash on February 20.

A source said: “There is a distinct lack of indie bands at this year’s awards and there was a slim hope that Arctic Monkeys might come and add a bit of rock ‘n ‘roll to the event.

“Everyone knows they aren’t big on awards and, at the moment, they seem to have no intention of coming. It’s a shame, as their ongoing feud with Take That could have added a real spark to proceedings.”

However, all might not be lost, pals close to the band say the one thing that might persuade the band to show up would be to see Sir Paul McCartney in action after picking up his Lifetime Achievement Award.

“They may go to the after party if Sir Paul has one. They went to the Oasis party at Cuckoo Club last year,” a source told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper.

“Or, if they were asked to duet with him at the end of the show, I think Alex and the lads would find it hard to turn down.

“They met Sir Paul at last year’s Q Awards and their mate Noel Gallagher is a big fan, so he might be able to drag them along.”