January 12, 2013 14:34

Alt-J: 'We didn't think the Brit Awards were for the likes of us'

Band also respond to comments from Roxy Music's Brian Ferry

Photo: Richard Johnson/NME

Alt-J have told NME that they didn't think the Brit Awards were for "the likes of us" after they received three nominations for this year's ceremony.

The band scored nominations for Best British Group, Best British Album and British Breakthrough, with keyboardist Gus Unger-Hamilton describing the news as "incredible".

He said:

It's mad, really. I mean, the Brit Awards: we thought this this wouldn't be for the likes of us, but it's incredible.

He also spoke about the difference between the Brit Awards and the Mercury Music Prize, which they won last year with their debut album 'An Awesome Wave'. "Ah, they're different, very different," he said. "In a way, they're at very different ends of the British music spectrum and that's what's cool about it, it's democratic and it's everyone's tastes."

When asked if he was pleased with any of the nominations in particular, meanwhile, he replied: "Best British Group is a bit crazy, because it's such a big thing. It's not just your album or your single, or whatever - it's Alt-J, or whoever, in every way. That's really nice to be up for."

Unger-Hamilton also responded to comments made by Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry, who said in November last year that the band looked as if they were "one step away from the dole queue". Eager to downplay the incident, the keyboardist said: "I saw the video and he wasn't really slagging us off. It was just taken grossly out of context. I would say to Bryan Ferry, listen to the album and I hope you like it."

The Brit Awards take place on February 20 at London's O2 Arena. Muse, One Direction, Robbie Williams, Emeli Sande, Mumford and Sons and Ben Howard will be performing at the event.

The full Brit Awards nominations are:

Best British Group:
Mumford and Sons
Alt-J
The xx
Muse
One Direction

Best British Album:
Emeli Sande 'Our Version of Events'
Plan B 'Ill Manors'
Alt-J 'An Awesome Wave'
Paloma Faith 'Fall To Grace'
Mumford and Sons 'Babel'

Best British Female:
Amy Winehouse
Paloma Faith
Bat For Lashes
Jessie Ware
Emeli Sande

British British Male:
Calvin Harris
Plan B
Richard Hawley
Ben Howard
Olly Murs

British Breakthrough:
Jake Bugg
Jessie Ware
Alt-J
Ben Howard
Rita Ora

Best Live Act:
Mumford and Sons
Coldplay
Muse
The Vaccines
The Rolling Stones

Best International Group:
The Black Keys
The Script
Alabama Shakes
Fun.
The Killers

Best International Male:
Jack White
Gotye
Michael Buble
Frank Ocean
Bruce Springsteen

Best International Female:
Rihanna
Alicia Keys
Cat Power
Lana Del Rey
Taylor Swift

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