Britney Spears presents the Performer of the Millennium award to Michael Jackson at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York on August 29

　　RAPPER Eminem walked off with four MTV Video Music Awards last week, including one for Video of the Year, in a show bookended by rousing performances by Bruce Springsteen and a rare appearance by heavy metal rockers Guns N' Roses.

　　Eminem, who also won awards for Best Male Video, Best Rap Video and Best Direction, said of the "moonman" statuette that was MTV's symbol in its early days, "I'm taking this home for rap - period." His video "Without You" won Video of the Year honors. The rapper won four MTV awards in 1999 and 2000.

　　To kick off the night's festivities, Michael Jackson, one of the best-selling pop stars of all time, was named the "Artist Of The Millennium".

　　Jackson revolutionized the music industry with videos like "Thriller," "Beat It," and "Billie Jean."

　　"When I was a little boy growing up in Indiana if someone told me I'd be getting the artist of the millennium award, I wouldn't have believed it," Jackson said in his acceptance speech.

　　Jackson was not exempt from the not-too-subtle wit of host and "Saturday Night Live" star Jimmy Fallon, who cracked:"Michael Jackson looks great for 44. Between you and me, I think he's had some work done," Fallon joked about Jackson's ever-evolving appearance.

　　As singer Pink took the stage to accept the Best Female Video award for "Get The Party Started," the dance-pop starlet said, "I'm too drunk to do this."

　　"I want to thank the fans for sticking with me, for being open-minded and for believing that music is freedom," said Pink, who also won the Best Dance Video award.

　　The White Stripes, one-time indie rockers who gained mainstream success over the past year, won three awards, including Breakthrough Video award for "Fell In Love With A Girl," a video featuring animation of Lego children's toys.

　　Punk-ska band No Doubt took home two awards for Best Pop Video and Best Group Video for "Hey Baby," featuring reggae act Bounty Killer.

　　The Best New Artist award went to 17-year-old Avril Lavigne for her winsome pop-rock hit "Complicated."

　　Newcomer Michelle Branch won the Viewers Choice award for her single "Everywhere," which was selected by viewers via the Internet.