BRIT Awards: The 5 Most Memorable Moments ahead of the 2022 ceremony

Virgin Radio

4 Feb 2022, 10:05

The BRIT Awards 2022 are right around the corner, and of course no BRITs season would be complete without a look back at some of the moments that made award show history. 

Starting all the way back in 1977, and returning revamped in 1982, the BRITs recognise the best in the music industry both here and overseas. 

This year sees the return of a full audience and performance line-up, and all awards will be gender neutral, ditching the male and female categories. 

Famously a boozy affair, the BRITs are not short of unforgettable moments - think Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack dress, Harry Styles and Lizzo flirting up a storm, and Jarvis Cocker crashing a Michael Jackson performance. But some moments are so ingrained in music history, they live on forever. 

So here are Virgin Radio’s top 5 most memorable BRIT Awards moments:

1. Ronnie Wood almost fights with Brandon Block 

No one can deny the BRIT Awards have certainly calmed down since the early noughties. While some artists used their winning platform to merely suggest a fight with another act (hello Robbie Williams), The Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood almost got into a real punch-up on stage. 

While presenting the Best Soundtrack Award with Thora Birch back in 2000 (won by Notting Hill), mates of Celebrity Big Brother star Brandon Block convinced him that he’d won the prize, and he staggered his way up to the stage, much to the surprise of Ronnie and Thora.

“What the hell’s going on here?” Ronnie asked, and Brandon looked just as shocked while being dragged away from the stage. After an attempt to rush back, Ronnie reacted by chucking his drink at him. A number of extremely cross words later, and security managed to break them up before things really came to blows. 

2. Geri Halliwell tops the famous Union Jack dress by dancing in between gigantic legs 

Adding in Geri Halliwell’s truly iconic Union Jack dress was almost too easy for this list, as that moment is etched in music and fashion history for all time. It was what Geri did after to try and top it which we’ll never forget about. 

Davina McCall was a real trooper while hosting the 2000 BRITs ceremony. After almost having to break up that Ronnie Wood v Brandon Block fight, she then had the fun task of introducing Geri, recently solo from the Spice Girls, who then literally emerged from a humongous pair of legs. 

Pushed apart by scantily-clad men, Geri, performing her hit Bag It Up, appeared from the centre of those gigantic limbs, slid down a pole and popped open her shirt in a performance that definitely had nans watching at home clutching their pearls. 

Symbolic of her recent exit from the girl band, Geri looked right at home busting a move with her shirtless dancers before ending with some eye-watering pyrotechnics. We don’t think the Union Jack dress could be beat, but the legs certainly tried! 

3. Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner makes the most awkward acceptance speech ever 

When it comes to acceptance speeches, The BRITs have had Adele flipping the bird, fights breaking out and even Robbie Williams challenging Liam Gallagher to a boxing match. But this one lives in the history books for being one of the most cringy to ever happen at the awards show.

Back in 2014, the Arctic Monkeys picked up the gong for Album of the Year, and frontman Alex Turner took it as an opportunity to berate the music industry, comparing it to a ‘swamp’.

He also suggested rock and roll was cyclical like the nature of life, ‘always waiting there…ready to make its way back through the sludge.’

He then turned to the camera to tell the BRIT bosses to ‘invoice me for the microphone if you need to’ before proceeding to literally…drop the mic. 

While it divided critics, the drawn-out monologue remains one of the more memorable speeches ever made in BRITs history. 

4. Madonna takes a tumble

There’s no questioning that Madonna is a total pro when it comes to performing, having been the long-reigning Queen of Pop for almost 40 years. And even if the face of adversity, or in this case, a face full of floor, Madge knows how to handle it with dignity.

Of course, there was the infamous tumble that left the BRITs audience in 2015 speechless. Madonna, while performing her hit Living For Love, was seen having a spot of trouble trying to free herself from her sparkling red cape. 

Having seemingly undone the tricky knot, Madonna readied herself for the cape’s swift removal, but instead of a slick whip back, the singer was dragged along with the cape itself down the high platform's stairs. Ouch!

Without so much as skipping a beat, the Like A Prayer star was back on her feet in mere seconds, but despite the quick save, Madonna’s tumble will remain in the BRITS history books. 

5. Oasis vs everyone else in 1996

And finally, no BRITs memorable moments list would be complete without this infamous acceptance speech made by Oasis at the height of their rivalry with Blur. 

In 1996, they were presented with the prize for Video of the Year for Wonderwall, which was their third award of the night. 

Liam kicked things off by suggesting presenter Michael Hutchence wanted to give him ‘a slap round the face!’ but the late INXS star ended things politely with a kiss on the cheek instead.

Turning to the mic, Liam started to make his thank yous, but just walked away from the podium. Noel then chimed in with a very random thanks to ‘sausages’.

Their next time up on stage, both Liam and Noel took aim at Blur by thanking ‘all the people’ before cranking out a short, snide rendition of Blur’s ‘Parklife’, and rhyming it with S***life. Very creative. 

Don’t forget, you can tune in this Sunday 6th February to hear Stu Elmore present Virgin Radio’s preview of the Brit Awards 2022, which will include live music from nominee’s, Sam Fender, Wolf Alice and Tom Grennan.

The BRIT Awards 2022 with Mastercard takes place Tuesday 8th February at The O2 arena, broadcast on ITV and ITV Hub and hosted by Mo Gilligan.