BRIT Awards

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BPI • OCC

Charts
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Awards
BRIT Awards • Mercury Prize
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Periods
Pre-1950 • 1950s & 60s
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1990s - Present

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• Caribbean

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Timeline
1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995
1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000
2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005
2006 • 2007 • 2008 • (full list)

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The BRIT Awards, often simply called The BRITs, are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of British or Britannia, but has subsequently become a "backronym" for British Record Industry Trust.

Contents

[edit] Overview

The awards began in 1977 under the auspices of the BPI, the British record industry's trade association. The last BPI Awards show took place at the Albert Hall and was the first prime-time TV event. In 1989 they were renamed the Britannia Awards, or BRIT Awards. MasterCard is the long-time sponsor of this annual event.

BRIT is also an acronym for the British Record Industry Trust Show - the Trust supports youngsters in the arts and education mainly at The BRIT School in London.

Strong music industry sponsorship and involvement mean that awards are given without much democratic process and, many suspect, for strongly commercial reasons. These are awards given by the music industry to the music industry. Robbie Williams pointed this out accepting an award a few years back. More recently, the awards have more reflected the tastes of the record-buying public, with an artist needing to prove popular and chart-topping before they are rewarded.

The BRIT Awards used to be broadcast live until 1989, when Samantha Fox and Mick Fleetwood hosted a shambolic show in which just about everything went wrong - lines were fluffed, bands mis-cued, and airtime filled with embarrassing silence. After this the show was recorded, and broadcast the following night, part of a revamp by Jonathan King for 1990 whose actions also included naming them the BRITs, hosting the show in 1987 - the most successful previous show - and releasing a megamix of British dance acts including S'Express and A Guy Called Gerald called BRITs 1990. He also managed to get Margaret Thatcher to croon How Much Is That Doggy In The Window? King subsequently went on to revamp A Song for Europe and won the Eurovision Song Contest for the UK in 1997, in which year the BPI awarded him their Man of the Year accolade.

Pre-recording proved to be a good idea when, during a Michael Jackson performance in 1996, Jarvis Cocker from the band Pulp invaded the stage in an impromptu protest at Jackson's 'messianic' performance. There have been many such notable instances, including several UK politicians presenting awards and being heckled (and, in the case of John Prescott, having water thrown over him, at the 1998 awards, by Chumbawamba vocalist Danbert Nobacon [1]) and a remarkable performance by The KLF in 1992.

As of the 2007 BRIT Awards, the show was once again broadcast live on British television, airing on 14 February 2007 live on ITV1. Comedian Russell Brand presented the event. Three awards were dropped from the 2007 ceremony - Best British Rock Act, Best British Urban Act and Best Pop Act. [2]

In addition, an equivalent awards ceremony for classical music, called the Classical BRIT Awards, is held each May.

[edit] Main winners for each year

[edit] Selected famous and infamous BRIT Award incidents

[edit] Russell Brand hosting (2007)

Some controversy was caused by the host of the 2007 Awards ceremony, comedian Russell Brand, who made several quips relating to news stories of the time including singer Robbie Williams' entering rehab for addiction to prescription drugs, the Queens 'naughty bits' and a fatal friendly fire incident involving a British soldier killed by American armed forces in Iraq. TV channel ITV1 received over 300 calls from viewers complaining about the presenter's jokes which also featured sexual innuendos including one about the Queen. [3]

[edit] Ronnie Wood vs Brandon Block (2000)

After consuming large amounts of alcohol (and allegedly drugs) dance DJ Brandon Block was told by his friends that he had won an award and had been summoned to the stage to collect it. Because of his advanced state of intoxication he believed them and walked onto the stage, eventually ending up next to a bemused Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and actress Thora Birch who were about to present the award for best soundtrack album. Having been successfully bundled off the stage by security, Ronnie Wood aimed an insult in his direction at which Block broke free from his captors to square up to the guitarist. A series of insults were then traded between the two – both comically leaning into the microphone so that everyone could hear. Wood threw his drink into Block’s face and the DJ was eventually removed from the stage. Some time after the incident, Block claimed that he had subsequently apologised for his behaviour to Wood, who had merely brushed it off.

[edit] Robbie Williams vs Liam Gallagher (2000)

Around the time of his departure from Take That, Robbie Williams had begun an unlikely friendship with the Gallagher brothers from Britpop band Oasis at the Glastonbury Festival. The friendship was short lived, however, and the two parties regularly traded insults in the press with Noel Gallagher once famously referring to Robbie as “the fat dancer from Take That”. Having won “Best British Single” and “Best Video” for “She’s The One”, Williams challenged Liam to a televised fight saying, ”So, anybody like to see me fight Liam? Would you pay to come and see it? Liam, a hundred grand of your money and a hundred grand of my money. We'll get in a ring and we'll have a fight and you can all watch it on TV.” Gallagher was in Japan at the time touring with Oasis.

[edit] Belle & Sebastian beat Steps to best newcomer award (1999)

In 1999, indie band Belle & Sebastian were nominated for Best British Newcomers. Some questioned the band's eligibility for the category, as they had released three albums before the 1999 Awards. The award was sponsored by Radio One and voted for online by their listeners. At the time, Steps were Britain's biggest boy/girl pop band and were also nominated. There was all round surprise, however, when the winners were announced as Belle & Sebastian. On the Saturday after the awards, a story appeared in the press alleging that Belle & Sebastian had rigged the vote in their favour, encouraging students from two universities to vote online. However, fans argued that the band had a predominantly student following and that band member Isobel Campbell had attended one of the universities in question. The following year Steps were presented with the award for Best Selling Living Act, a newly-created award for that year.

Belle & Sebastian were not the first act to have been accused of motivating all their fans to vote for them in a BRITs public vote; similar allegations were directed at Depeche Mode for winning Best British single with "Enjoy the Silence".[citation needed]

[edit] Chumbawamba throw water over John Prescott (1998)

In 1998, Danbert Nobacon of politically active band Chumbawamba threw a bucket of iced water over Labour cabinet minister John Prescott. Despite apologies on behalf of the band from EMI Europe, Chumbawamba were unrepentant claiming, ”If John Prescott has the nerve to turn up at events like the BRIT Awards in a vain attempt to make Labour seem cool and trendy, then he deserves all we can throw at him".

[edit] Geri Halliwell's (Ginger Spice) Union Jack dress (1997)

In 1997, probably the most famous moment in Brits history, Geri Halliwell, aka Ginger Spice of the British girl group, the Spice Girls, wore the famous Union Jack dress, sewn by her sister, during a performance to the group's hit "Who Do You Think You Are". Later on she sold her dress in a charity auction to Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas for a record £36,200.

[edit] Jarvis Cocker's stage invasion during Michael Jackson’s Earth Song (1996)

In 1996, Michael Jackson was given a special "Artist of a Generation" award. At the ceremony he accompanied his new single "Earth Song" with a grandiose stage show, with Jackson as a Christ-like figure surrounded by adoring children. The event prompted a spontaneous decision by Cocker, of the band Pulp, to mount the stage in protest. Once onstage, Jarvis ran around, lifting his shirt and pointing his (clothed) bottom in Jackson’s direction. Cocker was subsequently questioned by the police on suspicion of causing injury towards three of the children in Jackson's performance, although no criminal proceedings were forthcoming. The media reaction was mixed, and there has been speculation on how damaging this event was to Jackson's career. "Earth Song" became Jackson's biggest hit in the UK, spending six weeks at the top of the chart. His album HIStory, released the previous year, became the best selling double disk album of all time.

[edit] The KLF, a machine gun and a dead sheep (1992)

In 1992, dance/art band The KLF were awarded Best British Group (shared with Simply Red) and were booked to open the show. In an attempt to hijack the event the duo hooked up with Extreme Noise Terror to perform a death metal version of the dance song 3am Eternal that prompted conductor Sir Georg Solti to walk out[4]. The performance ended with Bill Drummond firing blanks from a vintage machine gun into the audience and announcer Scott Piering stating ”Ladies and gentleman, The KLF have now left the music business”. Producers of the show then refused to let a motorcycle courier collect the award on behalf of the band. Later, guests arriving for an after show party witnessed the band dump a dead sheep outside the venue with the message ”I died for ewe – bon appetite” tied around its waist. KLF disbanded three months later.

[edit] The Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood fiasco (1989)

In 1989, in an attempt to add some excitement and appeal to the proceedings organisers decided to rename the awards to 'The BRIT Awards' and came up with the idea of having Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood and former page three girl Samantha Fox as co-hosts of the live show. The results were indeed spectacular. The inexperience of the hosts, an ineffective autocue and poor preparation combined to create one of the most shambolic performances ever aired on live British television. The hosts continually got their lines mixed up, a pre-recorded message from Michael Jackson was never actually broadcast and several star guests arrived late. A classic moment included the appearance of Boy George of Culture Club and was along the lines of:

Sam Fox: (with a fixed beaming smile) …and the winner is...

Celebrity (Radio 1 DJ Gary Davies) presenting the award: (looking panicked) aren’t you going to read out the nominations first?

Sam Fox: (with a determined look) …here they are … the FOUR TOPS...

Boy George appears from backstage looking self-conscious.

Boy George: (with an apologetic smile) I’m afraid I’m just the one top...

The Samantha Fox/Mick Fleetwood show proved to be the single most important event in BPI/BRIT Awards history. It was just so disastrous that the British public’s interest was revived and the BRITs became associated with risky live TV.[5] The show’s organisers would successfully exploit this association to publicise future shows, although until the 2007 awards they were never actually transmitted live.

[edit] Awards

[edit] 2008

Main article: 2008 BRIT Awards

Hosts: Ozzy Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne[6]
Venue: Earls Court Nominees will be announced on Monday 14 January [1].

[edit] 2007

Main article: 2007 BRIT Awards

Host: Russell Brand
Venue: Earls Court

[edit] 2006

Main article: 2006 BRIT Awards

Host: Chris Evans
Venue: Earls Court

[edit] 2005

Host: Chris Evans
Venue: Earls Court

A Special BRITs 25 Award for the best single from the past 25 years was awarded to Robbie Williams' "Angels".

The producers added a fake film effect to the TV coverage of the 2005 awards show, which was criticised by some who thought ruined the immediacy of the awards show, and was dizzying when combined with fast camera movements.

[edit] 2004

Host: Cat Deeley
Venue: Earls Court

This year was the very first time the winner of the Outstanding contribution award did not close the show, this role was instead handed to The Darkness. This was seen by many viewers[citation needed] as inappropriate as well as against tradition, and said the honour should have gone to Duran Duran. There were also claims that the British rock act category was fixed.[citation needed]

[edit] 2003

Host: Davina McCall
Venue: Earls Court

[edit] 2002

Hosts: Frank Skinner & Zoe Ball
Venue: Earls Court

[edit] 2001

Hosts: Ant & Dec
Venue: Earls Court

[edit] 2000

Host: Davina McCall
Venue: Earls Court

[edit] 1999

Host: Johnny Vaughan
Venue: London Arena

[edit] 1998

Host: Ben Elton
Venue: London Arena

[edit] 1997

Host: Ben Elton
Venue: Earls Court

[edit] 1996

Host : Chris Evans
Venue: Earls Court

[edit] 1995

Host: Chris Evans
Venue: Alexandra Palace

[edit] 1994

Hosts: Rupaul & Elton John
Venue: Alexandra Palace

[edit] 1993

Host: Richard O'Brien
Venue: Alexandra Palace

[edit] 1992

Venue: Hammersmith Odeon

[edit] 1991

[edit] 1990

Host: Cathy McGowan
Venue: Dominion Theatre

[edit] 1989

Hosts: Mick Fleetwood & Samantha Fox

[edit] 1988

Venue: Royal Albert Hall

[edit] 1987

Host: Jonathan King
Venue: Grosvenor Hotel

[edit] 1986

Venue: Grosvenor Hotel

[edit] 1985

Host: Noel Edmonds
Venue: Grosvenor Hotel

[edit] 1984

Venue: Grosvenor Hotel


[edit] 1982

Host: David Jacobs
Venue: Grosvenor Hotel

[edit] 1977

Host: Michael Aspel
Venue: Wembley Conference Centre

n.b. these awards were to mark the Queen's Silver Jubilee and were for the previous 25 years of her reign.

[edit] Most successful acts

There have been numerous acts, both groups and individuals, that have won multiple awards. The table below shows those that have won five or more awards.

Artist Number of awards
Robbie Williams 15 (4 with Take That)
U2 7
Annie Lennox 7 (2 with Eurythmics)
Coldplay 6
Paul McCartney 6 (4 with The Beatles)
Prince 6 (2 with The Revolution)
Michael Jackson 5
John Lennon 5 (4 with The Beatles)
George Michael 5 (2 with Wham!)
Oasis5
Take That5

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ spunk.org
  2. ^ BBC
  3. ^ BBC
  4. ^ NME
  5. ^ BBC
  6. ^ What's on TV

[edit] External links

de:Brit Awards es:Brit Awards fr:Brit Awards id:Brit Awards it:BRIT Awards he:פרסי המוזיקה הבריטית nl:Brit Award no:BRIT Awards pt:Brit Awards ja:ブリット・アワード ru:Brit Awards

Retrieved from "http://india.smashits.com/wikipedia/BRIT_Awards"
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