First Brit Awards
Wembley, London The 18th of October 1977 AD
There have been more memorable Brit Awards ceremonies: 1998 when John Prescott had water tipped over him; the botty-squirming awfulness of Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood ’s presentation at the 1989 event; and Jarvis Cocker’s magical moon in 1996. But the very first Brits, held at Wembley Conference Centre on October 10 1977, were special not only for inaugurating what has become an institution but also for celebrating the previous quarter of a century of British pop music as well as contemporary stars.
Thus the Best British Album was awarded to The Beatles , who had split years before, and the Best British Producer went to George Martin , whose greatest contributions to the industry had been in the previous decade, and the Best British Single gong went to Procol Harum.
Given Michael Aspel was presenting, helped out by I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue legend Barry Cryer , we can conclude that the show’s creators were not going for radical; indeed, the Monday-night event – no atmosphere can equal a Monday evening - was partly to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II ’s silver jubilee . The voting was restricted to 85 companies belonging to the British Phonographic Industry, and fewer than half bothered to send their forms back. At a time when Johnny Rotten was king Best British Male was Cliff Richard , and Best British Female Shirley Bassey , so perhaps it was the company chairmen who made the selections rather than newly-recruited bicycle-couriers.
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