Brits Shockers: The Stars Speak Out

Brits organisers have decided to ditch the best rock, pop and urban categories from this year's ceremony - and some acts are angrier about it than others.

2006's best urban act Lemar told MTV UK News he's fine with the changes coz it means he's made history.

"If that's what the organisers want to do, then they should do it," he said. "Im happy that I won the award in the past. And this means I won the last ever one. So there!"

King of the jungle and backstage host Matt Willis (who hasn't been nominated for an award) was less pleased.

"There's no pop category in The Brits anymore? When The Brits is about popular British music? That absolutely shocks me. That sucks!" he said.

"But I suppose its moving with the times - it is very hard for pop music at the moment and this just seems to be the nail in the coffin."

The Fratellis front man Jon gave us his take on the loss of the categories too: "I dont know if there is any good rock, pop or urban around. So I figure you cant start giving awards to people."

Let's hope Sugababes and Girls Aloud don't read that...

And there were more tremors at the bash - 15-times Brit winner Robbie Williams was left out of the running in the best male and best album category, earning just one nod for best live act.

"No Robbie? People have got a bit of a downer on him at the moment," The Feeling's Dan Gillespie told us, while top tip for the best male gong, James Morrison, said the organisers had got it right.

"I dont think Robbie has done that well this year really," he said. "The people who've been nominated are better than (anything) he has brought out this year. I think its kinda fair. The other artists are tougher competition than him for me."

One of those competitors is none other than controversial singer Jarvis Cocker whose last appearance at the Brits got him banned after he pulled a moonie at Michael Jackson.

"They havent let me back yet, have they? I dunno if they are gonna invite me to the actual awards," he said, "but Its nice to be nominated."

He added, "I always thought I was the best male! I have always been with a band before so to be nominated in your own right, especially as Im just starting my solo career, its quite nice you know."

We can't wait to see what tricks he has up his sleeve for this year's show...

SLJ