Prior to 1993 the Brit Awards was seen as a yearly tribute to long established multi million selling stars such as Annie Lennox and Phil Collins. In 1993 Suede were the British band of the moment, seen as an answer to the domination of American grunge rock acts like Nirvana. They had appeared on the cover of Melody Maker under the headline 'The Best New Band In Britain' before they had even released anything and their first two singles had been critically lauded, the second, 'Metal Mickey' made the top twenty. Many commentators at the time believed Suede should have been a foregone conclusion for best new act at the Brits but they were not even nominated.
The NME began a campaign which eventually led to a last minute invitation for Suede to open the show at the Alexandra Palace, London on 16th of February 1993. Hosted by Richard O'Brien of Rocky Horror Show and Crystal Maze fame he introduced the band almost reverently as the 'already legendary Suede'. Cue polite clapping and quite possibly the best performance by a British band ever on the Brit Awards.
It was the first time I had seen Suede or anything like this for that matter. I was hooked instantly. Quite apart from the fact that the song performed, Animal Nitrate, was and still is one of the best songs of all time, it was the performance that blew everyone away. Lead singer Brett Anderson personified androgynous sexuality with his girlish bobbed haircut and practically bare, pale torso, snarling the sexually charged lyrics with ferocious energy, literally whipping himself with the microphone. Joined at the very front of the stage by Butler and Osman it looked like they were about to launch themselves into the crowd and fight them. It was jaw dropping stuff to me at the time. Suede went on to become one of the most popular and influential English bands of their time but they would never be this good again.
