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The resurgence of heavy metal music was underlined yesterday when AC/DC and Iron Maiden received three nominations between them in the shortlists for the 2009 Brit Awards.

The two bands, which were at the peak of their fame 25 years ago, were nominated alongside contemporary acts such as the Killers, the Verve and Kings of Leon.

Iron Maiden, whose first British No 1 album, The Number of the Beast, topped the charts in 1982, feature in the British Live Act category. AC/DC are nominated in the International Group and International Album categories, winning recognition for their latest album, Black Ice, which topped the charts in October.

Leading the way in the nominations are Coldplay and Duffy, who are each nominated in four categories. Coldplay are recognised for their multimillion-selling album Viva La Vida, making the shortlist for British Group, British Album, British Single and British Live Act.

Duffy, who shot to fame last year with Rockferry, the year’s best-selling album, which has sold nearly 4.5 million copies worldwide, also features in the British Album and British Single categories. She has also been nomina-ted for British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act, the latter of which will be voted for by listeners of BBC Radio 1.

Adele, who won the breakthrough award last year, is one of three acts nominated in three categories, alongside Scouting for Girls and Elbow, who won this year’s Mercury Prize for their album, The Seldom Seen Kid.

Up against Coldplay, Duffy and Elbow in the Mastercard British Album category, regarded as the plum award, are the Ting Tings and Radiohead.

Radiohead could have featured in the awards last year, as In Rainbows was released in late 2007. But because the group chose to sell it at that stage only through their own website it was ineligible for a chart listing and recognition in the Brits. It went on widespread release in January 2008, when it went straight to No 1.

Take That, who have won seven Brits in the past, are recognised only in the British Group category this year, despite having enjoyed a resurgence in popularity.

Two of the awards have already been decided. Pet Shop Boys won the highly coveted Outstanding Contribution to Music title and a new act, Florence and the Machine, took the Critics’ Choice Award.

The winners of the majority of the categories are chosen by a panel made up of 1,000 judges, including music critics, journalists and radio presenters. The awards ceremony will be held on February 18 at Earls Court Arena, in West London. It will be hosted by James Corden and Mathew Horne, the stars of the BBC comedy Gavin & Stacey, and Kylie Minogue. Performers include Pet Shop Boys, U2, Kings of Leon, Duffy and Girls Aloud.

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