Brits 2014: Bowie becomes oldest ever winner

'Too cool' Bowie sends Kate Moss to pick up award and deliver surprising political message

Brits 2014
(Image credit: 2014 Getty Images)

DAVID BOWIE became the oldest winner of a Brit Award last night, picking up the prize for Best British Male at the O2 Arena in London.

The 67-year-old's latest album, The Next Day, fought off competition from Jake Bugg, Tom Odell and Mercury Prize Winner James Blake.

Presenting the award to the absent star, Noel Gallagher asked the audience: "You maniacs didn't think David Bowie was actually going to be here? Bowie's too cool for that - he doesn't do this s***."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Kate Moss, dressed in a Ziggy Stardust outfit, collected the statuette on Bowie's behalf - and delivered an unexpected political message from Bowie, calling for Scotland to "stay with us" and vote against independence in this year's referendum.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19:Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders of Arctic Monkeys receive the award for the MasterCard British Album of the Year at The BRIT Awards 2014

462811611CS00126_The_BRIT_A
(Image credit: 2014 Getty Images)

The evening's biggest winners were Arctic Monkeys, who won Best British Group and Best Album, prompting frontman Alex Turner to declare that "rock and roll will never die".

James Corden presented the show for fifth and final time and, according to the Independent, was encouraged by organisers to "whip up some spontaneous fun". That may have explained why he kissed Radio One breakfast show presenter Nick Grimshaw and described people with double-barrelled names as "horse-faced inbreds".

Nevertheless, the evening passed off without major incident. A performance by Pharrell Williams and Nile Rogers closed a show that John Aizlewood of The Evening Standard branded "neither snoozefest nor car crash".

Winners list in full

British Male Solo Artist - David Bowie British Female Solo Artist - Ellie Goulding British Group - Arctic Monkeys British Breakthrough Act - Bastille British Single - "Waiting All Night" by Rudimental ft. Ella Eyre British Album Of The Year - AM by Arctic Monkeys Best Video - One Direction International Male Solo Artist - Bruno Mars International Female Solo Artist - Lorde International Group - Daft Punk Global Success - One Direction Critics' Choice - Sam Smith British Producer Of The Year - Flood & Alan Moulder

To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us