HE is one of the biggest rock stars the UK has ever seen, so I’m hoping for a raucous night at next month’s Brit Awards as Liam Gallagher will be taking to the stage.
I can reveal the former OASIS frontman will be putting a cat among the pigeons on the night as the saviour of this year’s bash by bringing back rock and roll to the stage at London’s O2 Arena on February 8.
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After becoming more pop-focused in recent years, I’ve no doubt that outspoken Liam will have a thing or two to as he launches into his set – which could include new music after he announced his new single Everything’s Electric yesterday.
He’s the first confirmed name among an ultra A-list line-up which I previously revealed includes Ed Sheeran – who organisers also confirmed to me yesterday as part of our first exclusive announcement ahead of the event.
Ed, whose brilliant latest album Equals continues to dominate the charts after being released late last year will also perform – and he’s likely to be among the big winners at the ceremony too as a frontrunner in several categories alongside rival Adele.
Grime star Dave – whose album We’re All Alone In This Together was also among the big hits of last year – will perform too in what is shaping up to be a massive night. Further acts include Little Simz and this year’s Rising Star winner Holly Humberstone.
Bringing some international glamour to the evening will be US pop sensation DoJa Cat, who had one of the year’s biggest chart successes with Kiss Me More.
A music insider said: “Brits bosses are thrilled to have got Liam on board as a true rock’n’roll legend.
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“But they will be on the edge of their seats on the night because he is notoriously unpredictable so anything could happen.
“Getting him on board as well as Ed and other big names is a real coup.
“There are other acts who are still in talks to perform and bosses want to keep some surprises back for now.
“As much as possible, they want it to be appointment viewing just like the Brits used to be, because there will be something for everyone on the night.”
Mo Gilligan has signed up to host the show, taking over from comedian Jack Whitehall who did a great job.
As a lifelong Oasis fan, I know I’ll have a blast on the night.
Now I just need to make the difficult decision of what to wear: tux or parka.
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We need Brits spirit
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THEY always attract the music industry’s most glamorous stars.
But while A-listers are pictured looking sensational in their finery as they arrive at the Brit Awards’ infamous after-parties, anything goes once inside.
For many big acts and industry bigwigs it’s at the late-night, post-show bashes where the celebrations really begin, as those who have won gongs let their hair down away from TV cameras.
With booze flowing long into the night at some of London’s swankiest venues, paid for by the record labels, the lavish events have seen given rise to some of the most memorable hook-ups, bust-ups, boozed-up departures — and stum-bling photos the likes of which Ed Sheeran, Girls Aloud and Lily Allen would likely rather forget.
Which makes it all the more disappointing that this year there will be no extravagant knees-ups after the main event, as industry executives fear a surge of positive Covid tests afterwards which could derail their artists’ schedules.
I couldn’t be more gutted.
As an entertainment columnist, the Brits’ parties are often the most enjoyable — and fruitful — night of my year.
A-list romances between the likes of Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris would never have happened without them — they first hooked up in 2015 at the Universal Music bash.
I watched as another celebrity romance fizzled out in 2018 — a forlorn Cheryl sat tellingly alone at The Ned nightclub while Liam Payne headed out into the night, in what would prove to be their last night out together as a couple.
Lizzo sofa dance
The same couldn’t be said of Lewis Capaldi at the same venue two years later, after he scooped two gongs. Sadly for Lew, by the time he met me at around 3am he wasn’t sure where he’d left them — though presumably they turned up later, and we shared a boozed-up embrace with a significant amount of “I bloody love you!” chat.
In fact, despite the free-flowing booze the Brits parties are generally a wholesome and upbeat love-in — with just a handful of notable exceptions.
In 2019 I watched as a then-unknown Lizzo sang an impromptu set while dancing enthusiastically on a sofa. A year later she stole the show when she performed a medley of break-through hits — and sat next to Harry Styles for the awards.
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At the same party host Jack Whitehall flirted relentlessly with the year’s big new star Dua Lipa. A year later he performed the same peacocking ritual with Brooklyn Beckham’s model ex-girlfriend Hana Cross.
Two years earlier my team spotted a very well oiled Ashley Roberts flirting up a storm with a then 19-year-old Brooklyn despite being about twice his age.
On-off former super-couple Drake and Rihanna were also stirred up by the event in 2016 as they partied long into the night and appeared to rekindle their flame.
The same evening Justin Bieber pulled an almost all-night bender at the height of his pre-wedding partying phase — ending up somewhat unexpectedly in a heavy-metal club surrounded by glamorous women.
For several years Abbey Clancy was the most dependable of party animal — all but falling out of the after-parties in 2016 and 2017 looking rather less elegant than she did when she arrived but very much embodying the spirit of the Brits.
The same year at Universal Music’s knees-up one unlikely reveller, drippy London Mayor Sadiq Khan made an embarrassing beeline for Katy Perry, who graciously tolerated him in her VIP area. OK, it can’t all be glamour. In 2020 I could scarcely contain my admiration for Noel Gallagher and host Jack Whitehall who were the last men standing at the swanky Chiltern Firehouse restaurant — sweeping up another round of drinks as the venue cleared out other guests at 4.15am.
Last year Jade Thirlwall was drinking for three because her Little Mix bandmates Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock were both pregnant.
After-after-party
I saw her more than make up for it as Little Mix won Best Group — the first time a girl band had landed the gong — so she could be forgiven for later stumbling into a cab while flashing V-signs at the cameras and clutching her chest to keep it in her dress. A worthy performance.
But the biggest caner of recent years must be pop’s most successful superstar, Ed, whose 2015 outing remains the stuff of legend — even if he’s probably only just getting over the hangover now.
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Having enjoyed a massive year which saw him catapulted right to the top of the music A-list, Ed headed from the awards to his label’s party at Freemasons’ Hall — and was seen stumbling as he was escorted to a waiting car by his team at around 3am.
Others out partying that night included Taylor Swift and Ellie Goulding, who were spotted deep in conversation with Mick Jagger — and never one to do things by half, Ed later turned up at an after-after-party at The Box club where he kept going until 6am.
He even upstaged Madonna who had stolen the show for the wrong reason earlier that evening with a dramatic on-stage fall.
Snaps of Ed leaving the club in the arms of his team spoke for themselves. Sorry, mate! His admirable antics brought back memories of the Brits of old where the likes of Liam Gallagher, Lily Allen and Jay Kay were carried — or in Jay’s case more like wrestled — out of bashes in worse-for-wear states that could quickly have turned ugly given their fiery reputations.
But that’s all right, too, because if our stars aren’t living wild, unpredictable lives, what is there for the rest of us to aspire to?
That’s why we need the Brits to lead the way, reignite the showbiz scene and give us all something to peer at enviously in the hope we might one day emulate it ourselves.
While the main event may have triggered memorable on-screen moments, I’m far more excited by what goes on behind closed doors long into the early hours.
And whether you’re lucky enough to get an invite or read about it in Bizarre the next day, so are you.
New Vision for the future
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WHILE much of the music industry’s attention may be on the Brits just now, it won’t be long until Eurovision returns.
I revealed the management firm behind Dua Lipa was launching a bid to overhaul the UK’s bid.
And it sounds like the guys at Tap Management who are masterminding the effort after years of underwhelming entries haven’t been putting their feet up.
Some of the biggest names in the game have been in touch about the prospect of writing or performing the track. Industry sources tell me that label representatives for names as wide-reaching as Lewis Capaldi, Years And Years’ Olly Alexander, Becky Hill and Mabel have expressed an interest – including some stars floating the possibility of forming a supergroup to perform together for one night only.
A source told me: “The response to the Eurovision overhaul has been huge.
“It’s very exciting. Most of the major labels have been interested and suggested songs or performances from their big acts – and one of them talked about combining three big names to do it together.
“It’s still early days but it’s exciting to see the industry so engaged in the idea of making us a force at Eurovision again.
“There are songs in contention with less established artists that might work for Eurovision.
“We’ve got the best pop music in the world. We should be leading the way.”
This year’s event will take place in Turin in May – after rockers Maneskin won in 2021. With so much talent involved in our efforts this year, for once I can’t wait to see what we’ve got lined up.
Noel Gallagher offers an olive branch to brother Liam as he admits his solo career is more successful
