IT HAD been billed as the end of an eight-year feud that began when a backstage argument escalated into an onstage fight.

Scottish rock brothers Jim and William Reid, whose band the Jesus and Mary Chain outraged the rock establishment in the 80s and 90s, had reportedly not spoken since the bust-up in Los Angeles in 1998.

Last night they had been due to reunite on stage to accept the Maverick award at the Mojo magazine music awards, but the event failed to cast its magic spell on William, 47, who had stormed off stage all those years ago, as he failed to show at the ceremony in Shoreditch, East London.

Not even the presence of Bobby Gillespie, a founding member of the band who left to form Primal Scream in 1986, could tempt William back on stage with his younger brother.

The siblings feature high on any list of rock’s warring families. Compared to the Sex Pistols when they exploded on to the music scene in the mid-1980s, the Jesus and Mary Chain inspired Radiohead, Nirvana and Oasis.

The East Kilbride band’s welding of sweet melodies to ear-splitting feedback became an international success; but verbal communication between the Reids ceased after a traumatic US tour in 1998. The battling brothers knocked over microphone stands and a sellout crowd watched William storm out of the group and Jim abort the show.

Receiving the award, Jim Reid, 44, did nothing to calm the historic dispute when he told the audidence: “I would like to thank my big brother — for not coming.” The award recognised the band’s explosive initial impact. Audiences rioted after the black-clad group ended gigs after 15 minutes of feedback-heavy songs.

Last night’s gathering of music legends also welcomed a rare public appearance by Scott Walker, the reclusive singer, who accepted the Mojo Icon award. Sir Elton John was inducted into the Hall of Fame, though Axl Rose, the Guns N’ Roses singer who had been due to assist his hero, also failed to attend the ceremony. Corinne Bailey Rae, the jazz-inspired singer from Leeds, was the youngest winner, taking the Best New Act award.

Rosanne Cash, the daughter of Johnny who has carved her own career in country music, accepted the Catalogue award on behalf of her late father. However, she attacked the industry created around her father since his death.

The Hollywood biopic Walk the Line has introduced Cash’s songs to a new audience and record companies have released numerous compilations, cashing in on his name.

“My father was much like Matisse in that he had a creative rebirth at the end of his life,” she said. “But much of the product that has come out post-mortem has been one-dimensional and exploitative.”

German rock received a pre-World Cup boost when the Classic Album award was presented to Can, the experimental Cologne group founded in 1968. The band’s album Tago Mago (1971), a groundbreaking fusion of jazz-inspired drumming, improvised guitar and idiosyncratic vocals, took the award. Radiohead are keen advocates of Can’s music, which established “krautrock”.

THE WINNER IS...

Best New Act Corinne Bailey Rae
Hall of Fame Sir Elton John
Lifetime Achievement David Gilmour
MOJO Icon Scott Walker
Songwriter Award Chrissie Hynde
Les Paul Award Brian May
MOJO Medal Jools Holland
Catalogue Release Legend by Johnny Cash
Vision Award (Film/DVD) The Fearless Freaks by Flaming Lips
Classic Album Tago Mago by Can
MOJO Maverick Jesus and Mary Chain
MOJO Hero Prince Buster
Inspiration award Buzzcocks
Roots award Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham
MOJO Merit Bert Jansch

OUT OF HARMONY

The Everly Brothers
Long-simmering feud exploded on stage in 1973, when Phil smashed his guitar and walked off.

The Kinks
In a restaurant Dave stole one of Ray’s chips. Ray reacted by stabbing his brother in the chest with a fork

The Black Crowes
Chris and Rich Robinson took a four-year hiatus from their band — and each other — because of repeated fights. Reunited after agreeing that their musical “telepathy” was too strong

Oasis
Noel Gallagher walked out of 2000 European tour after bust-up with younger brother Liam. Claims he will never forgive sibling for unspecified comment about former wife Meg