The Canadian singer later won the worldwide male award, while the best global female award was collected by Bjork for a fourth time, accepting via video message.
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The 27-year old songstress seems to have fully recovered from her botched performance of “All I Ask” at the Grammy Awards last week.
Adele took advantage of her first win to announce she was supporting singer Kesha, who has been embroiled in a lawsuit with her mentor-producer Dr Luke.
Adele didn’t have any more tech issues at the BRIT Awards on Wednesday night.
Bowie’s friend, British actor Gary Oldman, picked up a posthumous “BRIT Icon” award for the singer, while New Zealand’s Lorde, a singer championed by Bowie, performed his hit song Life on Mars.
Adele who recorded her chart topping album “25” after a break said, “To come back after so long away and be so warmly received means so much”. “I am beyond words in gratitude”, she wrote.
The BRIT Awards, held in London’s O2 arena, are the mainstream British music industry’s most prestigious awards ceremony, having been held every year since 1982. The band, who racked up its ninth Brit award, dedicated it to “all the young men and women musicians in refugee camps around the world”.
Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Coldplay are also due to perform at the Brits ceremony, which recognizes worldwide stars alongside homegrown talent.
British rapper Stormzy, who won best Grime act at the Mobo (Music of Black Origin) awards in 2014 and 2015 and who had a top 10 hit a year ago, said he was disappointed his kind of music was not celebrated. The other nominees were Blur, Foals, One Direction and Years & Years.
Tame Impala beat off stiff competition in their category, against Alabama Shakes, Eagles of Death Metal, Major Lazer and U2.
One Direction, who have a huge fan base, were winners of the best British video for Drag Me Down which was voted for by the public.
“I’m honestly… oh God, sorry… you’re probably getting f–ing bored of me anyway”, the crying star said.
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Fremantle’s psych-rock quintet Tame Impala continued its monumental rise on the global music scene as they scooped another internationally renowned gong at the Brit Awards.
