There once was a time when the Brits prided itself on being less of an award ceremony, and more three hours of organised chaos. Back when you could still smoke indoors and buy a pint for the price of a bus ticket.
The year was 2000. The millennium had just turned, Robbie Williams was reaching the height of his powers. And apparently having Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood leering at then 18-year-old American Beauty actress Thora Birch, whilst they presented an award for Best Soundtrack Album, was just something that happened live on terrestrial TV.
To give you a sense of what was going on musically in what was the 20th anniversary of the ceremony, an 'Outstanding Contribution to Music' award was being presented to the Spice Girls. Rule Britannia was entering its hangover phase.
But to be honest, nobody remembers the winners or the losers - there was only one moment worth remembering that night.
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All of it was thanks to one man. Brandon Block - oi, oi...
Video credit: http://www.brits.co.uk/
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There's a lot to talk about in the clip. Tanked-up on free booze Ronnie is channelling everybody's pervy uncle. Pissed up, glowing orange, wearing leather pants, and slinging his arm round Birch with the creepy confidence of the man behind the camera of a 'casting shoot' porno. Thora makes a joke about him, "just finding our he's [her] dad."
And after an awkward transition where Ronnie leers into the camera to talk about about how none of the audience are 'old enough to remember the Rolling Stones', the video montage of potential winners rolls.
Image credit: http://www.brits.co.uk/
When we come back a figure has appeared on stage, with security seemingly unconcerned about his presence there. Hugh Grant's Notting Hill is announced as the winner - but who is he? Why is he there?
"What the hell's going on?" Ronnie lears. "We have an intruder..."
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"What's your name mate?" asks then Big Brother host Davina McCall.
This is his moment. His chance to become famous. To have his name echo through the alcoves of history. He steps up to the mic.
"BRANDON BLOCK," he yells. "Oi, oi!"
It was suggested that Block's friends had sent him up on the stage having told him he had won Musician of the Year, when in fact he had not even been nominated for the award. But that didn't matter in the moment.
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Security begin dragging him off stage, with Ronnie telling Ibiza DJ: "Get off stage you cunt."
But that isn't the end of it. Block breaks free from security and charges towards the Rolling Stones guitarist with all the velocity of a tanked up rhinoceros, only for him to throw his drink in Block's face.
Image credit: http://www.brits.co.uk/
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From there Ronnie and Block engage in trash talk that wouldn't look out of place on Monday Night Raw, directing their comments about one another to the gallery rather than the person they're addressing.
"What'd you call me?" Block shouts into the mic.
"The nicest guy I ever met," Ronnie replies.
"Thank you very much you old bastard!" Block snarls.
"D-Von, get the tables!" Image credit: http://www.brits.co.uk/
As security drag the irate DJ away, Ronnie sees him off: "You wasted my drink. Now fuck off."
Davina congratulates him. Eighteen-year-old Thora tells him he rocks. Wood walks away a winner.
That's right, the pervy pissed uncle - a force and symbol of all that is good - has triumphed over the apparent evil.
"I thought he was somebody important," says Ronnie, offering the kind of banter you expect of somebody combining a pink jumper and gold chain, "He is now!"
Image credit: YouTube / Brits
Ronnie might have gone down as the arguments winner. Block might have been dragged off the stage in disgrace. But on reflection there was only one winner on the night.
Whether Block truly believed he had won and awards or not. We can all recognise the instinct, 6 pints down to do something spontaneous, make our mark on the world. Photobomb that picture, climb that telegraph pole, invade that Brit award stage.
Brandon Block we salute you, 17 years on, never to be forgotten, here's a big "oi, oi!"
The Brits will be aired tonight exclusively on ITV from 7:30pm
Topics: brit awards