Guitarist Wilko Johnson said he has been "cured" of cancer a couple of years after being told he had only months to live.

The Dr Feelgood star picked up the icon award at the Q Awards in central London and said he hoped to be playing gigs again soon.

Johnson, who has recorded a new album with The Who frontman Roger Daltrey, said he had played a string of farewell dates after first being told in 2012 that he had "inoperable" cancer and "10 months to live".

He told the audience at the music industry bash he had met a doctor who was "getting curious as to why I'm not dead" who referred him to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

He said: "It was an 11-hour operation and they took this tumour out of me, this tumour weighed three kilos, that's the size of a baby, and I was carrying that thing on stage with me everywhere. Anyway they got it all and they cured me".

Johnson added: "Now I'm recuperating and hoping to regain my strength completely soon and go back on the road and the moral of the story is you never know what's going to happen."

Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan dedicated his band's twin triumph at the Q Awards to two rock 'n' roll survivors - Johnson and his father.

The Leicester rockers were named best live act and best act in the world today.

Accepting the latter award from Jimmy Carr, the singer explained how his father survived when he accidentally ran him over earlier this year before leading the crowd in a standing ovation for Johnson, saying: "This is for Wilko, God bless him."

The ceremony also recognised the efforts of independent record label XL Recordings, which helped steer Adele to worldwide fame.

Its boss, Richard Russell, picked up the award for outstanding contribution to music at the event at the Grosvenor House hotel in central London and said its success had been a "completely collaborative endeavour".

The label also counts albums by The Prodigy, the White Stripes and Dizzee Rascal among its output.

Other winners included Ed Sheeran, who was named best solo artist, and Sam Smith, who won the best new act award.

Paolo Nutini won the gong for best track for Iron Sky from his Caustic Love album while Elbow's The Take Off And Landing Of Everything was named best album, but the band lost out in the best video category to Jamie xx.

The event, formally known as the Xperia Access Q Awards and hosted by Absolute Radio's Christian O'Connell, also saw wins for former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr and XTC songwriter Andy Partridge.

Q's senior editor Matt Mason said the winners reflected the "breadth and quality of modern music".

He said: "From the soul voices of Paolo Nutini and Sam Smith, through the artistry and invention of Elbow and Jamie xx, to the feel-good rock 'n' roll power of Kasabian and Ed Sheeran's ability to seduce the world with a guitar and some irresistible hooks, it's been a thrilling 12 months in music."

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason picked up the classic album award for the band's record The Dark Side Of The Moon from Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, and Manic Street Preachers handed over the inspiration award to Simple Minds.

Other winners were singer-songwriter St Vincent, who picked up the maverick award, the Charlatans, who were named Q heroes, and Jean Michel Jarre, who was recognised for innovation in sound.

The recently-reformed Culture Club won the idol award.

Mason said the winners had "helped define modern music".

He said: "To have musicians such as Pink Floyd and Jean Michel Jarre sitting alongside St Vincent and Richard Russell seems fitting to us as they all adhere to their own distinct vision."

FULL WINNERS LIST:

Q Best New Act presented by Xperia Access

Sam Smith

Q Maverick

St Vincent

Q Best Track presented by Absolute Radio

Paolo Nutini - Iron Sky

Q Best Solo Artist presented by Citroen

Ed Sheeran

Q Songwriter

Andy Partridge

Q Best Album

Elbow - The Take Off And Landing Of Everything

Q Best Video

Jamie xx - Sleep Sound

Q Best Live Act presented by the Cavern Club

Kasabian

Q Hero

The Charlatans

Q Outstanding Contribution To Music

XL Recordings, collected by Richard Russell

Q Inspiration

Simple Minds

Gibson Les Paul Award

Johnny Marr

Q Classic Album

Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon

Q Innovation In Sound presented by Xperia Access

Jean Michel Jarre

Q Icon presented by Carling's Black Label Project

Wilko Johnson

Q Idol

Culture Club

Q Best Act In The World Today presented by Buster and Punch

Kasabian