THERE was major drama at the Mercury Music Prize awards in London last night when Pulp won the "album of the year" award ahead of Oasis. The Mercury Music Prize, billed as the music industry's answer to the Booker Prize, is awarded each year to the best British/Irish album of the year.
Pulp, a six piece band from Sheffield, won the award for their Different Class album, which has so far spawned four hit singles. The result is one of the most surprising in Mercury's history, as it was widely expected that Oasis, with What's The Story (Morning Glory?), who were firm favourites with both the pundits and the bookies, would walk away with the award.
Pulp's lead singer, Jarvis Cocker, donated the £25,000 cash prize and specially sculpted bronze statue to the War Child charity, a music industry charity which provides for Bosnian children.
There was a further surprise at the Mercury when it was revealed that folk singer Norma Waterson had beaten Oasis for second place with her eponymously titled album of cover versions.
Speaking after winning the award, Jarvis Cocker said. "Even though we're pleased to have won the award, we have already won, because people have bought quite a lot of copies of the album."
Pulp's surprise achievement prevented Oasis from carrying off a unique industry double winning both the Brit award and the Mercury prize in the same year.
