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The BRIT Awards immediately turned up the heat with a kickoff performance by the Arctic Monkeys, who took the O2 Arena stage in London on Wednesday to perform “R U Mine?” — possibly as a gesture to the awards show itself.
Frontman Alex Turner wore a green blazer with his hair slicked back, and sang out into the crowd that found themselves around a giant A and M, each lit by fire.
PHOTOS: BRIT Awards: Pharrell, Bastille, Rita Ora Hit the Red Carpet
The opening performance seems to end the group’s controversial history with the awards show. The band refused to attend the ceremony in 2006 (when they won the breakthrough act award), sent a mocking video message as Wizard of Oz characters in 2007, and gave a sarcastic acceptance speech while dressed as country squires in 2008. Their words were drowned out by awards show organizers, and the band now has made peace with the Brits as part of an acceptance that they’ve become one of the U.K.’s preeminent rock bands, following a Glastonbury Festival headline performance last year.
Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Pharrell Williams, Lorde and Disclosure, Ellie Goulding, Bastille and Rudimental were also confirmed to perform at the O2 Arena stage.
Watch Arctic Monkeys’ full performance below.
Email: Ashley.Lee@THR.com
Twitter: @cashleelee
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