1997. Roni Size/Reprazant, 'New Forms'
Who was he? Roni Size was a drum and bass genius, whose debut album was praised universally. He was the second Bristolian act to take the prize, and was probably hoping to ignite drum and bass in the same way that trip-hop had caught the imagination of everyone.
Was it an entirely outrageous choice? It was a good album, but as good as 'OK Computer'? Even as good as Spiritualized's 'Ladies And Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space', which went unnominated? It's fair to say that one of the favourites, Chemical Brothers' 'Dig Your Own Hole', has done more for dance music but it's somewhat of a travesty that Radiohead lost out to Roni Size of all people on what is largely thought to be their best album.
What has he done since? Follow-up 'In the Møde' was acclaimed. New Forms was re-recorded in 2008. Roni Size is, today, perhaps the least-known pop act on a list that also included Suede, The Prodigy, Beth Orton and even Spice Girls. Yeah, could've gone to a worse act.