Brit Awards: 30 years of fights, fashion and fiascos It’s come a long way since the days when Michael Aspel presented awards to well-behaved stars dressed in dinner jackets and gowns.
Now, as it prepares to celebrate its 30th birthday tomorrow night, the bash that once took place in the afternoon in a sedate London hotel has grown up to become the biggest, baddest and most unpredictable party in the music calendar.
Welcome to the BRITs.
As a journalist I’ve been backstage covering the event for years – and still vividly remember watching the nightmare pairing of Mick Fleetwood and Sam Fox, from the coughing, spluttering start (Mick) to the fighting back the tears end (Sam).
And it’s that kind of spontaneity which makes it better than anything America’s Grammys – where stylists are on speed dial and speeches give thanks to God – could ever dream of producing.
What we have is something completely different, where absolutely no one knows what’s going to happen next – whether it’s Jarvis Cocker gatecrashing Jacko’s performance, a drunk DJ called Brandon Block stumbling on stage or Amy Winehouse giving the sort of edge-of-the-seat show that only she can deliver.
That’s not to say to say our American friends don’t adore the Brits as much as we do. The US’ biggest star’s love it, too.
I remember when 50 Cent turned up with his mass of body guards. By the time they were pointed towards the backstage dressing rooms 50 couldn’t get in because half his team had filled the room up.
Some of that security could have been used out front when Brit Pop ruled the scene. Damon Albarn, Liam Gallagher and Mel C (yes, her indeed) would use the stage to start fights (“Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough, Liam” – Mel C) and kick off massive feuds that still rumble backstage to this day.
The behind-the-scenes areas are just as unpredictable. The bar – themed by the brilliant Bruce French, who works with the Rolling Stones – always throws up surprises. One year it will be a bordello and the next a Glastonbury field.
Kylie is a favourite backstage. She hangs out with all other artists, makes no demands and has been known to track down and thank the assistants who put Aussie sweets in her room. I spotted her in 2008 chatting with Paul McCartney. The pair just stood at the bar admiring his socks.
Then there was the Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys who, when walking past the dressing rooms, noticed a grammatical error on Presenters Room, stopped, took out a pen and added an apostrophe.
There is also a beauty parlour with the artists’ favourite San Tropez tan (last year Jason Orange lived up to his name).
Stars are given major goodie bags and I’ll never forget Amy Winehouse being taken into the Estee Lauder bar. Some just ask for the lot to be sent to their rooms. But Amy picked up an eye liner and told the PR to hang on while she got her purse...
Some are however too cool for the BRITs. The Arctic Monkeys said they’d never go until they turned up in 2008 dressed in Plus Fours to pick up their awards. The reason, as they shamefacedly confessed backstage, was: “Our mums wanted us to come so they could see us on telly.”
Here are my BRITs highlights...
Jarvis and Jacko (1996)
The ultimate BRITs moment.
In the midst of Jacko’s OTT Earth Song, a worse for wear Jarvis Cocker ran on stage, bent over to show his bum and pointed it in the direction of the singer.
The stunt split the audience – with half the stars cheering for Cocker and half appalled for Jacko.
The next day Cocker was arrested for allegedly injuring three children. The charges were dropped. It’s still the most talked about moment.
Prezza: I’ll give ’em Tubthumpin’ (1998)
I remember John Prescott being walked through the artists’ area smiling smugly. A few hours later he was hustled through again – soaking and red-faced, shouting: “I’ll give ’em Tubthumpin.” Turned out Chumbawamba’s Danbert Nobacon (who sang Tubthumping earlier) threw an ice bucket at him to protest at his presence. At the bar, Dave Stewart gasped for breath after laughing so much.
Madonna, not Like A Virgin (1995)
She may have been dressed in angelic white – but Madonna was fuming moments after her performance.
TV trickster Dennis Pennis grabbed her backstage and in front of cameras yelled: “Madonna, you’ve shown us everything you’ve got in your book Sex.
“What will you show us next – a photo of your insides?” Not amused.
Geri, your boob’s about to fall out (1997)
The Spice Girls were always the best fun backstage. And Geri and Mel B in particular went out of their way to make sure everybody knew they were the entertainment.
They banged on The Bee Gees dressing room screaming Stayin’ Alive, and threw a grey mac at Mark Morrison (aka The Mack).
You’d be a complete idiot not to realise each girl wanted to make the front page the next day And savvy Geri nailed it. After being given a short black dress to wear, her sister sewed together two union jack tea-cloths to make her iconic BRITs dress. Later, Geri, in skin-tight red dress ran past to pick up a gong. I yelled her boob was about to fall out. She winked and said: “I know!” She made the front page.
Take That & party! (2008)
The year Take That split up I bumped into Gary Barlow backstage and he dejectedly told me: “Last year we just walked through here and this year I was asked to show my pass.”
Everyone was thrilled to see them back on top and there was more champagne drunk on the Take That table that year than on any artists’.
Mark Owen was spotted in the early hours moaning that he was slightly tired and emotional: “I’ve never been to a BRITs and had to get up in the morning with kids”.
Battle of the chest hair (1998)
Top moment on stage but even better backstage. Robbie Williams was totally in awe of Tom Jones who spent over an hour regaling him with tales about Elvis, Sinatra and the rest. Then Rob challenged him to see who had most chest hair. He conceded defeat as the Welsh wonder ripped open his shirt to show off a black, fuzzy, phenomenon.
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Butt out, Justin (2003)
Justin Timberlake and Kylie (Pic:Getty)
I spoke to Trousersnake minutes before he did his dress rehearsal with Kylie and asked him what he most liked about Kylie. His answer: “Apart from the fact she’s a cool artist and a really nice girl, I’d have to say she’s got one of the best butts in the business.” I told him she always won Best Bum awards and he laughed and said: “I must find out why.” Minutes later he was on stage groping her. Classic.
RuPaul and Kylie (1994)
Kylie is the one artist who never lets her ego get in the way of a good joke.
So when skyscraper-sized transvestite RuPaul got out his magnifying glass to get a good look at teeny, tiny 5ft Kylie, she just laughed her head off. With some other artists it could have been a BIG problem…
Eminem and his chainsaw (1998)
It looked like a man gone mad but behind the scenes, Eminem, aka Marshall Mathers, went through hours and hours of rehearsals to get this performance absolutely perfect.
From the explosions to the angle of the chainsaw, he put in the longest time of any artist to nail his song.
He went in and out of his dressing room flanked by minders and had nothing from the restaurant. Instead his security brought in Big Macs and KFC.
The Presenters
The Brit awards started in 1977 but didn’t return to the screen until 1982. Here’s who has fronted the show.
1977 Michael Aspel
1982 David Jacobs
1983/4 Tim Rice
1985/6 Noel Edmonds
1987 Jonathan King
1988 Noel Edmonds
1989 Big Fleetwood and little Sam Fox
It took just 10 minutes of toe-curling banter between the bizarre pairing of drummer Mick Fleetwood and Page Three girl Sam Fox to realise the show was a total car-crash.
Most cringey moment was Boy George being announced as the Four Tops.
When Mick and his band Fleetwood Mac returned to pick up an Outstanding Contribution to Music award in 1998, he grabbed me and said: “Please tell me that Page Three girl isn’t anywhere near.”
1990 Cathy McGowan
1991/2 Simon Bates (voiceover)
1993 Richard O’Brien
1994 Elton John and RuPaul
1995/6 Chris Evans 1997/8 Ben Elton
1999 Johnny Vaughan
2000 Davina McCall
2001 Ant and Dec
2002 Frank Skinner and Zoe Ball
2003 Davina McCall
2004 Cat Deeley
2005/6 Chris Evans
2007 Russell Brand
2008 The Osbournes 2009 James Corden and Mathew Horne
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv-ente....2043196
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