Britons new and old celebrate Grammy triumphs

Several generations of British musical talent ranging in age from the veteran Led Zeppelin singer, Robert Plant, to Adele, only just out of her teens, took home major prizes from the 51st Grammy awards in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Plant, 60, walked away with five Grammys, including album of the year and record of the year, for Raising Sand, his acclaimed collaboration with American bluegrass singer Alison Krauss. Adele was named best new artist while Coldplay completed a UK clean sweep of the four prizes in the prestigious "general" category by taking song of the year with Viva La Vida, the title track from the band's multimillion-selling fourth album.

"I'm bewildered," Plant said. "In the old days, we would have called this selling out - but I think it's a good way to spend a Sunday."

Adele, 20, beat her fellow Briton, Duffy, to the best newcomer gong, also edging out the Welsh sixties-influenced singer for best female pop vocal performance, which she won for Chasing Pavements. "Duffy, I love you," Adele said collecting her prize, nearly in tears. She need not have worried: Duffy won best pop vocal album for Rockferry, the UK's top-selling album in 2008.

Coldplay also won best rock albumfor Viva La Vida, as well as a third Grammy for best pop performance for a group with vocals, again for the album's title track. Their occasionally over-serious - even grumpy - singer, Chris Martin, was in ebullient form, describing his group's sound in one speech as "a sort of limestone rock - a little softer but charming". Martin, like his bandmates, took to the stage dressed in a brightly coloured, military-style suit, the band's current chosen look. "I'd like to say first of all, thank you and sorry to Sir Paul McCartney for blatantly recycling the Sergeant Pepper outfits," joked drummer Will Champion.

Other British success in a ceremony, featuring no fewer than 110 prizes, came with Radiohead, who won best alternative album for In Rainbows. Estelle, the London-born R&B singer, meanwhile, won best vocal collaboration in the rap section for American Boy, her duet with US superstar Kanye West.

The night's other big non-UK winner was the rapper Lil' Wayne, who won four Grammys: best rap album; best rap song; best rap performance by a duo or group; and best solo rap performance.

The latest crop of Grammys did little to dispel the view that America's most-prestigious popular music awards tend to err on the side of safety, honouring the behemoths rather than crediting innovation. Other winners included the Eagles, Metallica and Al Green, but there were gongs for Kings of Leon and French electro-dance duo Daft Punk.

The event, featured performances including a show-opening U2, showcasing their new single, Get on your Boots, while McCartney joined up with Foo Fighters' singer Dave Grohl on drums, and Coldplay took to the stage with Jay-Z. Radiohead performed with the University of Southern California marching band, but MIA, the British dance artist known to her mother as Mathangi Arulpragasam, was more notable, performing at nine months' pregnant.

The biggest emotional moment came when Jennifer Hudson, the US singer and actor whose mother, brother and nephew were murdered in October, won best R&B album for her debut album. Hudson thanked "my family in heaven", in a tearful speech.

Won in the USA

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
Record of the year, album of the year, pop collaboration with vocals, country collaboration with vocals, and contemporary folk album

Coldplay
Song of the year, best pop performance by a group or duo with vocals, and best rock album

Adele
Best new artist, and best female pop vocal performance

Duffy
Pop vocal album

Radiohead
Best alternative album

Estelle (with Kanye West)
Rap/sung collaboration

• Grammys
• Led Zeppelin
• Coldplay
• Radiohead
• United States

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