Lady Gaga throws Brit Awards into chaos as she ditches plans for big performance

By Lizzie Smith and Ben Todd

Subdued: Lady Gaga climbs into her limousine last night on her way to Brit Awards rehearsals; she has ditched plans for a big performance

When Brit Awards organisers confirmed Lady Gaga as a performer at tonight's show, they must have been thrilled.

With her penchant for extravagant routines, her set looked sure to be the highlight of the much-hyped 30th anniversary.

But now organisers have been left making hasty rearrangements, after Gaga decided to turn her performance into a tribute to tragic fashion designer Alexander McQueen.

The singer has been left ‘devastated’ by the death of close friend McQueen, who committed suicide, aged 40, last Thursday after becoming inconsolable following the death of his mother.

As a result, Miss Gaga has completely down-sized her performance in tribute to the designer, according to award insiders.

The eccentric singer – who donned a bright red floor-length Tudor-style gown with an Elizabethean ruff when she met the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance last November - had been due to deliver a typically dramatic show.

Originally Gaga was to arrive onstage in a wreck of a car, packed with musical instruments, to perform a medley of her biggest hits, including Poker Face.

Now she is planning on singing less well known songs Telephone and Dance In The Dark - an album track.

But, instead, the 23-year-old will now perform a relatively low-key set for the star-studded audience at the event at Earl’s Court, West London as well as the millions who will be watching on TV when the show is aired live on ITV1.

A Brit Awards source revealed: ‘Lady Gaga has been left absolutely devastated by his death.

‘She was a huge fan of his talents as a designer – but more importantly a good friend of his. And she is determined her show will be a tribute.

'At the Brits, it was going to be a typically wild Lady Gaga show - but now she has decided she will deliver a much more sombre performance.'

Lady Gaga – real name Stefani Germanotta - debuted her hit Bad Romance at McQueen’s show in Paris last July. She then dressed in McQueen designs for the video to the single four months later.

When she arrived at rehearsals for the show yesterday morning, she had even dressed head-to-toe in black as a tribute to her close friend.

It was a far cry from Lady Gaga's normal public attire.

Her most infamous performance came at the MTV Awards in New York last September.

Then she had hung from a ceiling covered in fake blood after pretending to stab herself while performing her hit Paparazzi.

Two months later, she also asked for a giant bathroom to be built onstage while cavorting with a host of dancers for her performance on ITV show the X Factor


Poker Face: Lady Gaga appeared not to feel the cold as she left the May Fair hotel


Along with Lily Allen and Florence And The Machine Gaga has been nominated for three awards, making her a favourite to win.

Gaga, who had the biggest-selling single of 2009 with Poker Face, is nominated as best international female, international breakthrough act and best international album for her debut The Fame.

Along with Gaga's pared-down set there will be an array of eye-catching one-off performances - and even a royal endorsement - for the anniversary night at London's Earls Court.

Prince Harry has recorded a special message to be aired during the live show, praising the event as it takes place for the 30th time.

There will also be spectacular collaborations - for which the Brits has become increasingly known - including a showpiece duet between Florence Welch and Dizzee Rascal - both of whom are hot tips to win trophies.

Other performers lined up for the show include Kasabian and Jay-Z, who will take to the stage with Alicia Keys.

Allen is set to play, as is Cheryl Cole, whose husband Ashley is at the centre of newspaper stories about texts allegedly sent from his mobile phone.

Comedian Peter Kay will host the event, which will see Robbie Williams rewarded for his outstanding contribution to music with an honorary award. Williams will also round off the show with a live performance and is nominated in the best male category, against Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal, Mika and Paolo Nutini.


Going Gaga: A thrilled fan gets her photo taken with Lady Gaga as she leaves the May Fair hotel in London last night


Lott, Allen and Welch go head-to-head in the best British female category, with Allen and Welch also up for best British album. Welch - who took last year's critics' choice award - is also up for best British breakthrough against Lott.

Allen - who despite four nods in 2007 has remained empty-handed - rounds off her nominations by competing for best British single with The Fear.

Another act up for three prizes is boy band JLS, who will fight it out with established rock acts for the best British group title.

Dizzee Rascal and Nutini are also up for best British album for their releases Tongue N'Cheek and Sunny Side Up.

They compete with Florence And The Machine's Lungs, Allen's It's Not Me, It's You and Kasabian's West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum.

In addition to the usual clutch of award categories, organisers of this year's event - officially called the Brit Awards 2010 with MasterCard - are searching for winners of two further categories drawn from the past 30 years.

They are best Brits performance, including Sir Paul McCartney's Live And Let Die rendition in 2008 and Michael Jackson's Earth Song from 1996, which infamously featured Jarvis Cocker's stage invasion.

Brits bosses are also awarding a prize for the best album since the event began, with Oasis's (What's The Story) Morning Glory? favourite to win against titles by Coldplay, Dido and others.

Up-and-coming act Ellie Goulding has already been announced as the winner of the Brits critics' choice prize this year.


source: dailymail