If they were still around I'd have said Queen, but since they're not (without Freddie DOES NOT COUNT) I'll have to say Bon Jovi. Been a fan since before Slippery (debut album was in 1984), they've had some great albums and some not so great albums, but through it all they've endured, retained fans and acquired new ones, and consistently put on a helluva live performance. I say this from experience and from feedback from fans worldwide.

Iron Maiden are the best live band in the world. No other band even comes close.

If you haven't seen them live watch Rock in Rio.

Seriously. There is no point even asking the question. Iron Maiden will forever be the best live act in the world.

Sorry Simon, but you appear to have got the wrong end of the stick on the Q awards. Arctic Monkeys got the "Best LIVE act" award, so the Muse "Best act in the world" award wasn't specific to live performance. Doesn't negate your story though, the two are interchangeable on the "not worthy" scale.

Notwithstanding the lack of credibility of Q magazine or any of the other awards given, whether they deserve the award probably depends on your definition of "Act". I'm a bit of a Muse fan, but I wouldn't call them the best band in the world. They do, however, do a pretty good job of "acting" like they are the best band in the world.

U2. No contest. Not even an arm wrestle.

The Roots, Such a good pick. Onto their 11th? album and still haven't faltered. Haha I knew this would come up in this blog as soon as Muse were mentioned in a best of list.. love it. Everyone is Biased but mine would be Queens of the stone age. but will probably be Them Crooked Vultures after I hear the album and go to the Gig. Cheers Simon great bloggin'

Simon, you just hate anything that is popular. This is a sign you're getting too old to be a music critic. If you're at the point where nothing is original because "so & so" did it 20 years ago, it's time to hang up the hat, my friend.

Both Tool and Muse put on great shows. Led Zep on the other hand were hit or miss. Jimmy Page has appalling timing live.

If the criteria for a good live act is their ability to reproduce what they do in the studio but better, I would list these bands: Pearl Jam (circa 1994), Incubus, Terrence Trent D'Arby, Prince, Pantera, Justin Timberlake, Airbourne, The Eagles (with Don Felder), Tuck & Patti. I could go on.

Two of the best live acts I've ever seen were IAMX and the Cure. IAMX (Chris Corner from Sneaker Pimps) played a small venue in London, 2006. The combination of an intimate venue and his emotionally charged electronic pop (just think of a glammier Depeche Mode) were out of this world. When the Cure played Mt Smart in 1992, I was a teenage Goth and absolute devotee of the band. They did not disappoint. Even after a power failure cut off the PA for ten minutes, Porl Thompson kept us entertained, cranking up the volume on his amp so we could all hear. The highlight was the encore of 'The Forest'. Simon Gallup stumbled on, almost falling over into this amp and played a blinder, ending the song with an extended bass solo that degenerated in to a wall of feedback. However, seeing them play at the Vector Arena the last time they came was a let down. They were going through the motions, Gallup scowling through the entire gig, Smith a parody of himself and only Porl Thompson bothering to interact with the audience.

Radiohead? Prince? Really?? Oh dear.

I agree about the Stones though, and Led Zeppelin. I also think there's a good case to be made for Rammstein, Marilyn Manson, Opeth, Within Temptation, Jethro Tull, Iron Maiden... Why choose? Why not just admit they're all great, get all their albums and enjoy them?

I agree that Muse may be not be the best act in the world, but then i was not aware that they were trying to copy radiohead. All i was aware of was that i really liked their music so went to their concert in chch a year or two ago, and they were pretty bloody good. Not as good as pearl jam, and i can only imagine that they wouldnt be as good as radiohead but unfortunately i dont know from experience. But maybe if you stripped away your beliefs about who they are trying to copy, you would see that they do a pretty amazing show with some pretty cool songs. I think the award immediately loses credibility anyway as U2 has one it in the past.

Have to concur with you on the Roots there, champ. Saw them play the St James the last time they came (on my own, because my friends were all too stupid and/or cheap to go with me) and they put on an amazing show; like a cross between an old school soul revue, a Blue Light Disco (they even covered Push It by Salt'n'Pepa) and a straight-up hip hop gig but without all the lame audience participation crap.

Their recorded output is also pretty solid (and I can also recommend Phrenology and Things Fall Apart for anyone looking to get into them) and I sincerely hope they come back soon.

Other nominees would be Radiohead and the Arcade Fire (although I haven't seen Radiohead since '97 - they are seriously overdue for another visit). Muse live were good, but not The Roots good.