Madonna kicks things off at MTV Europe

The Foo Fighters perform during the MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony Thursday, at the Atlantic Pavillion in Lisbon, Portugal.

LISBON, Portugal -- British cartoon band Gorillaz took home the Best Group award at the 12th MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) in Lisbon, Portugal on Thursday. The band, the brainchild of Blur's front man Damon Albarn, was running up against Coldplay, Green Day, Black Eyed Peas and U2. They were up for four additional awards but won no more. "Best group and we don't even exist," said the band. Earlier the band had staged the world's first 3D hologram performance to their award nominated song Feel Good Inc. British band Coldplay took the award for Best Song. This top accolade was given to the band by singer Alison Goldfrapp. "Thanks, this means a lot to us," said the band's front man Chris Martin.  "In two weeks time we will be back in this building to perform again so we hope to see you then," he said.  U.S. band Green Day collected two awards, one for Best Album for American Idiot and another for Best Rock band. "We've been a band for a while now. Thanks very much," they said. They were up against 50 Cent, Coldplay, Gwen Stefani and U2 for Best Album. Green Day later also received the award for Best Rock from soccer players Luis Figo and Nuno Gomes. "This is for kick-ass rock 'n' roll music forever," they added. The show kicked off with a performance by Madonna, who gave a first-ever live TV rendition of her new single Hung Up, taken from her upcoming album Confessions on a Dancefloor. Madonna would later return to hand the Free Your Mind award to Sir Bob Geldof for work done to fight poverty in Africa through his Live Aid concerts. The 47-year-old songstress showed up on stage clad in a purple bodice, leather jacket, knee high boots and sunglasses, surrounded by a group of dancers. The ceremony was hosted by Borat Sagdyev, a spoof Kazakh television presenter and an alter ego of British comedian Sacha Baron-Cohen. Baron-Cohen, known for his daring and risqué sketches, had already presented the EMAs as his best known character, Ali G, in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2001. Best Female award went to Colombian bombshell Shakira. The singer said she was very surprised to receive the accolade. "I can't believe this," Shakira said. "I didn't expect it so I don't have a speech," she added, thanking fans in perfect Brazilian Portuguese. A black clad Robbie Williams took the award for Best Male shortly after singing his latest single, Tripping. The British singer dedicated the award and the song to his mother. Williams was also nominated for the Best Pop award. The Best New Act accolade went to fellow Briton James Blunt. The singer/songwriter, who did not attend the ceremony, was running against hip hopster Akon, rockers Kaiser Chiefs, Canadian balladeer Daniel Powter and teen hip-hop sensation Rihanna. The Black Eyed Peas took the award for Best Pop. They received the accolade from the hands of British girl band Sugababes. "We'd like to thank all our fans in Europe for all their support," the Black Eyed Peas said. Fellow U.S. Rapper Snoop Dogg then took home the award for Best Hip Hop. Before, U.S. hip hop girl collective Pussycat Dolls had crowds jumping up and down to the sound of their chart topping hit Don'Cha. Additional performers included the Black Eyed Peas who played their most recent hit Humps, System of a Down, Shakira and the U.S. rockers Foo Fighters.