Welsh rockers Manic Street Preachers are to be honored with British music magazine NME's highest accolade - the Godlike Genius Award.

The band follow in the footsteps of Primal Scream, Ian Brown, The Clash, New Order and Ozzy Osbourne in receiving what amounts to a lifetime achievement prize from the music bible.

Bass player Nicky Wire said they were "genuinely humbled" to receive the prize and has hailed it as the best accolade they've been given to date.

He added: "We've won four Brit awards, Ivor Novellos, in different countries around the world, Brat awards, but it's vindication. It feels like the best one because the NME's what I grew up with and for all its faults it still means a lot to me."

The gong will be presented at NME's annual awards on February 28 and the band will afterwards headline the NME's Big Gig at the O2 venue in London, which also features Kaiser Chiefs, Bloc Party, Klaxons and The Cribs.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)