Pop Music / ROCK/COUNTRY/R&R;/RAP/LATIN/JAZZ

BRIT TWISTS: The disruption of Michael Jackson’s performance by Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker and a friend wasn’t the only strange thing about the Brit Awards ceremony in London last week. The presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to David Bowie was made by a rather unlikely figure: Tony Blair, House of Commons leader of the Labor Party and therefore, by all current predictions, the next Prime Minister of Britain.

Blair has made a point of cultivating an image as a rock fan--he once sang in a totally unsuccessful band called Ugly Rumors. And several months ago the British Phonograph Institute presented him the guitar with which Eric Clapton recorded “Layla.”

Another presentation pairing proved a bit odd. INXS singer Michael Hutchence was the presenter for the best video award won by Oasis for “Wonderwall,” which led the group’s caustic Noel Gallagher to remark, “Has-beens shouldn’t present [expletive] awards to going-to-bes.”