U2 won all five categories in which it was nominated yesterday, including the coveted awards for album and song of the year. With a career haul of 22, the band ranks No. 6 on the all-time list of Grammy winners.

U2’s triumph, coupled with Green Day’s upset win in the marquee race for record of the year, gave a decided rock ‘n’ roll cast to the recording industry’s biggest night, even as pop and R&B acts continue to dominate the charts.

It was first time since 2001 that rock acts clinched all three of the biggest Grammy prizes in a single year, including U2’s wins back then for song and record of the year.

Asked backstage if his band was now the greatest in the world, U2 guitarist the Edge replied: “We are tonight.”

Singer Bono, clutching a glass of white wine, added: “You can’t ask me to be humble at a moment like this.”

The song of the year award for “Sometimes you can’t make it on your own” also marked the band’s second win in this category, following its 2001 victory for “Beautiful Day”.

But it was a mixed evening for the three acts who led the nominations with eight each — Mariah Carey, rapper Kanye West and R&B singer John Legend.

Carey, whose comeback album, “The Emancipation of Mimi”, was the biggest release in the US last year, won three statuettes.

But she did not get a chance to thank anyone, as all her awards were announced during the non-televised portion of the show.

Punk rock trio Green Day was the surprise winner of the record of the year award with “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”.

Carey’s haul for the evening included female R&B vocal performance and R&B song, both for “We Belong Together” and contemporary R&B album.

Paul McCartney was among the multiple nominees who went home with nothing. Other losers included rapper 50 Cent, and five-time nominees Alicia Keys and Gwen Stefani.

Tuning in: Anoushka Shankar performs 
during the 48th Annual Grammy Awards 
pre-telecast at the Staples Centre in 
Los Angeles on Wednesday.