Bowie will have an overarching presence at Thursday’s Mercury Music Prize ceremony as US actor Michael C. Hall, the star of the musical Lazarus -featuring music and lyrics composed by the star-will perform the stage production’s title track, which was also Bowie’s final single release before his death.
Advertisement
The 33-year-old won for Konnichiwa beating albums released by Radiohead, Michael Kiwanuka and David Bowie.
First to perform at the Apollo was Bat For Lashes followed by Anohni – who previously won the Mercury Prize in 2005 with band Antony and the Johnsons.
“I’ve been trying to do this and work out this music for so long…”
Winner Skepta shouted “rest in peace David Bowie” after he collected his award.
The artist said that “I want to inspire freedom, not just in music, not just in grime”.
For the first time an online vote will allow music fans to pick the first of the final six, with the remainder selected by a judging panel that includes DJ Annie Mac and former Mercury Prize victor Jarvis Cocker.
The Heroes singer, who died in January after a battle with cancer, is up against five-time nominees Radiohead for A Moon Shaped Pool, soul singer-songwriter Laura Mvula and a host of fellow British artists.
Skepta said he thinks the win will mean “more people are going to listen to grime” but added he wanted to inspire other genres too.
Natasha said: “I feel honoured”.
Hall said it was a great responsibility to be representing the musician on the stage where he had famously “killed” his Ziggy Stardust character. All these songs, we’ve travelled the world – no record label, nothing. “It was very, very heavy and sad in a way but we are also thankful that we could do something and to celebrate him and fulfill a wish he had”.
The grime star’s mum and dad were his guests of honour at the event at Hammersmith Apollo and were spotted dancing during his performances.
Advertisement
Jarvis Cocker announced the victor, saying “We as a jury decided that if David Bowie was looking down on the Hammersmith Apollo tonight if he would want the 2016 prize to go to Skepta”.
