Other nominees for the Mercury Prize also paid tribute to Bowie, with eventual victor Skepta shouting “Rest in peace David Bowie!” while collecting the award.
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Surrounded by his entourage, Skepta then made his way to the stage to collect the award and say a long list of thank you’s. Well Skepta beat out the likes of Radiohead, David Bowie, The 1975, Anohni, Bat For Lashes, Savages, and many more.
Judge Jarvis Cocker – who won a Mercury Prize with his band Pulp in 1996 – said the choice came down to Bowie or Skepta.
“I was like, “Let’s do it for ourselves”, Skepta, born Junior Adenuga, said in his acceptance speech. Even though the prestigious United Kingdom award had never before been given to an artist posthumously, Blackstar was the final and widely adored album from a British rock god.
“For everybody who knows what it takes to put an album together, cos it’s so much more than just making the music”.
Harriet Gibsone, one of this year’s judges, said: “Skepta is an artist who defines 2016 – a DIY artist whose popularity has crossed into the U.S. market without losing any of its British roots”. Skepta was sure to give a nod to fellow grime nominee Kano: “Kano did this for us and the love is there”.
Just this afternoon, it looked like David Bowie was a shoo-in for this year’s Mercury Prize. He said: “I wouldn’t say its a grime revolution – this is a really good time for grime but I think this is a revolution for freedom”.
The legendary singer, who passed away in January, was the bookies’ favourite to win the gong for his album Blackstar, which was released two days before his death.
Radiohead, who have never won the prize, became the most shortlisted artist in Mercury Prize history with their nod for A Moon Shaped Pool.
She said: “The first time in 2013 or something was like “what the hell” somebody get me out of here”.
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Michael C Hall was at the ceremony tonight with his wife Morgan Macgregor, where he performed Blackstar track Lazarus in honour of late nominee David Bowie.
