Coldplay fly the flag at Grammys as Jones dominates ceremony

Coldplay confirmed themselves as a band of genuine worldwide status last night by carrying off two awards at America's prestigious Grammy Awards in New York.

The melancholic fourpiece, who met as students at University College London, took best alternative album for the second year running and beat the likes of U2 to be named best rock performers. Frontman Chris Martin celebrated with a rousing take of the track Politik from the group's latest album A Rush of Blood to the Head, with accompaniment from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

But there was no repeat of the singer's anti-war comments at the Brits last week - performers had been warned the microphones might be switched off if they tried to make political gestures. However The Flaming Lips' singer Wayne Coyne wore a blue plaster under his right eye, which he said was "to draw attention to the fact that we are not supposed to talk about the war and peace. Stop the war. Let's find other ways. Hey, no black eyes".

Lifetime achievement award winners Simon and Garfunkel started the show by performing their Vietnam-era hit The Sound of Silence, Garfunkel admitting "We're aware that it has a resonance for the time." Limp Bizkit singer Fred Durst criticised war plans from the stage, as did fellow award presenter Bonnie Raitt, while best female rock vocalist winner Sheryl Crow performed with "No War" written on her guitar strap.

Other success stories of the evening included 23-year-old singer Norah Jones, who beat Bruce Springsteen in the vital song of the year and album of the year categories, as well as taking six other awards. The daughter of Indian classical musician Ravi Shankar, Jones was a virtual unknown a year ago but has been the US sales story of the year with her jazz-inflected album Come Away with Me. She said: "I never ever thought that the music I made would become popular music, so this is amazing."

Eminem reeled off a list of the rappers who inspired him by way of an acceptance speech for his two awards, which included best album. British dance act Dirty Vegas, who have yet to build a large following over here, took best dance record for Days Gone By. Singer Steve Smith said: "When we played a few gigs in Britain before Christmas people kept coming up to us and saying, 'I thought you were American'. Well we're not, we're English."

On a sadder note, the remaining members of the Bee Gees were on stage as a special award was presented following sibling Maurice Gibb's death last month. The Clash's Joe Strummer, who died in December, was also posthumously honoured as Springsteen and Elvis Costello performed a version of London Calling in his memory.

Meanwhile, boybander-turned-solo artist Justin Timberlake made the headlines once again after his bottom-grabbing antics at last week's Brit awards. The 'N Sync member was this time turned down by diminutive Australian chanteuse Kylie Minogue when he asked on stage if he might make contact with her derriere once again.