Bob Geldof sledges Keith Urban on stage at ARIA Awards
Last night, the 2018 ARIA Awards closed with two icons, Bob Geldof and Keith Urban, appearing on stage to present the final award.
Prior to revealing the winner for the ‘Song of the Year’ award, Urban reminded the Boomtown Rats rocker that he hosted the awards show back in 1991.
However, the musician seemed unable to recall the experience.
Geldof answered: “Apparently I did, but…”
Not missing a beat, Urban asked: “Memorable experience?”
Bob then said: “It was at a time when you don’t remember these sort of things. They come and go.”
“Like tonight?” Urban asked.
“Judging by your performance, yes,” Geldof responded.
The exchange drew gasps from audience members as some attendees looked visibly shocked.
However, Urban jumped in, saying: “I haven’t even played yet! It is a tough room, it is a tough room.”
The pair continued on stage, discussing why Geldof was present at the awards show.
“I was in town to do some stuff. I have a new record I was playing to the record company, I’m going to South Africa tomorrow. You called me and begged me to help you out tonight,” he said.
Geldof then transitioned into the nominees for the award, admitting that he was ad libbing because he couldn’t read the autocue.
“There’s very few people who make it to the top of the game and tonight there’s — again, it is down to three or four or five people who get to have the Song of the Year, the song better than any other song ever this year, the song that from all over the world gets to win this thing. I can’t read the stuff, so I’m making this up, but it sounds f**king good to me,” he shrugged.
Eventually, the rocker was able to announce Five Seconds of Summer as the winner for their song Young Blood.
Viewers were quick to comment on the bizarre banter, with some describing it as “cringey”.
One user wrote: “Is Bob Geldof taking the piss? What did I just channel surf to?”
Another commented: “So Bob Geldof is an EXTREMELY loose unit and I think the people who booked him secretly knew this.”
This #arias hosting shade from FIFO celebrities is cringey. Act like you want to be there, ppl, you're getting paid.
— beverley wang (@beverleywang) November 28, 2018
Here are the winners for the ARIA Awards 2018:
Album of the Year
Amy Shark – Love Monster
Song Of The Year
5 Seconds Of Summer - Youngblood
Best Male Artist
Gurrumul – Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow)
Best Female Artist
Amy Shark — Love Monster
Best Group
5 Seconds of Summer
Video of the Year
Dean Lewis - Be Alright
Best Blues and Roots Album
Tash Sultana - Flow State
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album
Parkway Drive - Reverence
Best Independent Release
Gurrumul - Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow)
Breakthrough Artist
Ruel - Dazed & Confused
Best Urban Release
Hilltop Hoods - Clark Griswold
Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album
Jimmy Barnes - Working Class Boy: The Soundtracks
Best Dance Release
Pnau - Go Bang
Best International Artist
Camila Cabello - Camila
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Vance Joy - Nation Of Two
Best Country Album
Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples - Campfire
Best Rock Album
Courtney Barnett - Tell Me How You Really Feel
Best Pop Release
Amy Shark - Love Monster
Best Australian Live Act
5 Seconds Of Summer - Meet You There Tour
Hall of Fame
Kasey Chambers
Did you tune into the ARIA Awards this year? Let us know in the comments below.