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BRIT AWARDS 2012: BLUR to receive Outstanding Contribution To Music Award


BLUR

The BRIT Awards 2012 with MasterCard
The UK’s premier music awards announce the return of the
Outstanding Contribution to Music award
Twenty-one years since the release of their debut album ‘Leisure’, British music icons Blur are named as winners of one of music’s most coveted awards


21st February 2012 – The O2 – Tickets on sale now – Broadcast live on ITV1



As the countdown begins to the most celebrated event in the British music calendar, The BRIT Awards with MasterCard announce today that Blur will be the 2012 winners of the Outstanding Contribution to Music award.

Blur have influenced the sound and attitude of British music for over twenty years. This prestigious award, which was rested last year, returns in 2012 to recognise their phenomenal achievements. In collecting the trophy, they join some of the world’s most influential names in music who have all previously been honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Music award. These include Paul McCartney, U2, Paul Weller, Oasis, Sting, The Who, Fleetwood Mac, Van Morrison and Queen.

Speaking about this award, Blur said:

"It's great to have recognition for all the work and all the heartache and all the joy that’s gone into this band." - Damon Albarn

 "Being in a band this long is like a kind of time travel. We’re the same gang we ever were, we’ve just landed in a different era. Or possibly we’re a totally different Blur still playing the old tunes in 1991… forever. I haven’t decided. But it’s always nice to get a BRIT Award." - Graham Coxon

On the reintroduction of the award, BRITs Chairman David Joseph said: 

"Blur are a seminal British band who have long been worthy Outstanding Contribution winners. Their contribution to British music is immense.  Blur are the perfect band to bring this award back for."
BPI Chairman Tony Wadsworth, former MD of Parlophone and CEO and Chairman of EMI Music, who has worked with Blur throughout their career, commented: 

"I feel fortunate to have worked with Blur throughout their career - our relationship is a special one and I'm thrilled that the BRITs Committee and the BPI Council are keen to recognise blur's amazing impact on music." 

Since forming in the late Eighties, the band have been one of the most influential and inventive acts of the last two decades, feted both for their glorious songwriting and musicianship and an ability to crystallise the moment in a song. Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree changed the face of British music in the Nineties when they were championed as the kings of Britpop but have always refused to stand still, constantly pushing boundaries and inspiring countless bands after them. Their debut album ‘Leisure’ was released in 1991, the first of seven studio albums.  In 2009 the original line up reformed to play a number of concerts including two dates at Hyde Park, which sold out in minutes, and a headline performance at the Glastonbury Festival, which was hailed by critics as one of the festival’s defining moments. The band, who have won countless awards in their career, won their first BRIT Award in 1995, clearing up that year with four awards for Best Band, Best Video, Best Album (Parklife) and Best Single (Parklife).  In total they have received an incredible 15 BRIT Award nominations

Like all winners on the night, Blur will be presented with an exclusive trophy designed for this year only by Sir Peter Blake. This is the second year the BRITs have asked a leading British creative icon to style the ‘blank canvas’ trophy, following Dame Vivienne Westwood’s success last year. Sir Peter is responsible for some of the most iconic album sleeves of all time including The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ and Paul Weller’s ‘Stanley Road’ as well as the single sleeve for Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?

The BRIT Awards 2012 with MasterCard will be presented by James Corden on the 21st February and will once more return to The O2, the location for last year’s much-talked-about ceremony which featured performances from Mumford & Sons, Take That, Rihanna, Arcade Fire, Tinie Tempah, Cee Lo Green, Plan B and Adele.   The awards will be broadcast live on ITV1.

More details of the 2012 Awards will be announced soon.

The BRITs 2012 Nominations Launch event will be held on Thursday 12th January from 5pm at The Savoy Hotel from 5pm.

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