| Brit Awards 1996 | |
| Date: | 19 February 1996 |
| Venue: | Earls Court |
| Host: | Chris Evans |
| Network: | ITV |
| Previous: | 1995 |
| Main: | Brit Awards |
| Next: | 1997 |
Brit Awards 1996 was the 16th edition of the Brit Awards, an annual pop music awards ceremony in the United Kingdom. It was organised by the British Phonographic Industry and took place on 19 February 1996 at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London.
Michael Jackson was given a special Artist of a Generation award. At the ceremony he accompanied his single "Earth Song" with a stage show, culminating with Jackson as a 'Christ-like figure' surrounded by children. Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker mounted the stage in what he would later claim as protest at this portion of the performance. Cocker ran across the stage, lifting his shirt and pointing his (clothed) bottom in Jackson's direction. Cocker was subsequently questioned by the police on suspicion of causing injury towards three of the children in Jackson's performance, who were now on stage. No criminal proceedings followed. It was later alleged that someone in Jackson's entourage hurt the children.[1]
1996 saw the height of a well-documented feud between Britpop rivals Oasis and Blur. The differing styles of the bands, coupled with their prominence within the Britpop movement, led the British media to seize upon the rivalry between the bands. Both factions played along, with the Gallaghers taunting Blur at the ceremony by singing a vulgar rendition of "Parklife" when they collected their "Best British Band" award.
INXS frontman Michael Hutchence presented the British video award to Oasis, whose guitarist Noel Gallagher mocked Hutchence upon receiving the award, by sneering, ″Hasbeens shouldn't give awards to gonnabes″,[2] which according to musician and producer Danny Saber upset Hutchence.[3] This inspired Hutchence to add the lyrics ″I'm better than Oasis″ to INXS' single Elegantly Wasted, released the following year. Hutchence committed suicide later that year.