U2 sweep the board with five Grammy 'gongs'

Bono performing 'One' with Mary J Blige last night

Bono performing 'One' with Mary J Blige last night

U2 swept the board at the Grammy awards last night, scooping five gongs including album of the year for

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

.

The record also earned the band the best rock album title, while they won song of the year and best rock performance for Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own. Their track City Of Blinding Lightstriumphed in the best rock song category.

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U2's success upstaged Mariah Carey, who with eight nominations had been billed of the comeback star of the night, but only picked up three awards in the end. "I don't know what to say; this is really a big, big night for our band," Bono told the 48th annual awards in Los Angeles.

The Chemical Brothers picked up the best dance recording award for Galvanizeand best electronic/dance album for Push The Button.

Cartoon band Gorillaz, headed by Damon Albarn, won best vocal pop collaboration for their single Feel Good Inc, featuring De La Soul. But Sir Paul McCartney, who had been nominated in three categories, went home empty-handed despite a rousing rendition of the Beatles' Helter Skelter, his first at the Grammys.

Gorillaz, who kicked off the 48th annual awards in Los Angeles with a "performance" with Madonna, lost out in three categories.

The leotard-clad 47-year-old joined the characters on stage for Feel Good Inc, which was mixed into her hit Hung Up.

U2's Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Ownis a tribute Bono wrote for his late father.

"I want to thank my father Bob for giving me voice and a bit of attitude," he said as he accepted the song of the year trophy. He added: "If you think this is going to go to our head, it's too late."

Picking up the best album title, Bono also paid tribute to those they had beaten to the award - Carey, McCartney, Kanye West and Gwen Stefani.

"Mariah, you sing like an angel, you're really something else," he said.

Earlier he explained that the title How To Dismantle An Atomic Bombhad been inspired by his relationship with his father. "When he died it set off a kind of chain reaction in me," he said.

"I've been shouting about him and giving off about him and complaining about him and screaming about him for the last few years and maybe tonight is the time to stop." "It's really a great, great moment for me personally."

U2 performed their hit Vertigo, and collaborated with R&B queen Mary J Blige for their classic, One.