Fucked Up Wins 2009 Polaris Music Prize

09/22/09 12:19am

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Fucked Up's The Chemistry Of Common Life won the Polaris Music Prize at a gala event held at the Concert Hall in Toronto's Masonic Temple on Monday night.

The Toronto based hardcore band were on hand to receive the $20,000 prize, which was handed out by Caribou's Dan Snaith, the winner of last year's Polaris Music Prize.

"We got here and we got frisked and then we got frisked again, and I was like, 'Ugh, this is going to suck,' but then we got a free iPod," vocalist Damian "Pink Eyes" Abraham said. "But this is much better than a free iPod."

Fucked Up were also on hand to perform at the event, where they played "Son The Father" from The Chemistry Of Common Life. All 10 Polaris Music Prize short listers were there to perform at the event, for the first time in the prize's history. The gala was hosted by CBC Radio 3's Grant Lawrence and MuchMusic's Sarah Taylor.

Abraham said Fucked Up plan to record a holiday season benefit album which will be used to raise awareness about crimes against aboriginal women.

Abraham also stated he hopes Fucked Up's win promotes "greater understanding" of hardcore music in Canada. 

"You know, they love bigger people in England," he said. "This, to me, is like, the greatest moment because I always felt like we were outside the Canadian music scene, and if we're outside, we stole the biggest prize."