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Plant leads the way as Brits rule the planet at Grammys

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Robert Mendick
13 April 2012

In almost a lifetime with Led Zeppelin, the Grammys pretty much passed Robert Plant by. Now at 60 — an age many observers must have feared he would never reach — the rocker has swept all before him, winning five Grammys.

On an evening of triumph for British stars, Plant finally won due recognition from the music industry for his unorthodox collaboration with Alison Krauss, the "queen of bluegrass" on their album Raising Sand.

Their five Grammys included two of the most prestigious on offer at last night's Los Angeles ceremony — best album of the year and best record for Please Read the Letter.

Other big British winners included Coldplay, who won three awards, including song of the year for Viva La Vida and Adele, 20, from Enfield, who picked up two awards for best new artist and best female pop vocal.

Welsh singer Duffy, whom Adele pipped for best newcomer, won one for best pop vocal album. Radiohead picked up two Grammys for their album In Rainbows.

But it was Plant who stole the headlines. "I'm bewildered," he said, before rattling off a long list of thank yous. "In the old days we'd have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."

Although Led Zeppelin picked up a Grammy lifetime achievement award in 2005, the band failed to win a single Grammy in their heyday. Plant had previously won a Grammy with Page in 1999 for a post-Zeppelin collaboration.

Critics have described the pairing of Plant and Krauss, now the most decorated female artist in Grammy history with 26, as "downright weird on paper" but Raising Sand has proved an artistic triumph.

Plant even paid tribute to his old partner. Plant described Please Read The Letter as "an old song that me and Jimmy Page wrote together post-Led Zeppelin, and it's been given that Nashville touch, and it feels pretty good". Plant and Krauss had already won a Grammy last year for the previously released single Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On) from the same album, bringing their total Raising Sand haul to six.

There were plenty of tears on display at the ceremony, the Oscars of the music industry.

"We've never had so many Grammys in our life," said lead singer Chris Martin. "We feel so grateful to be here. I'm going to tear up." Picking up the award for best song for Viva La Vida, the band, dressed in Sgt Pepper-style outfits, apologised to Sir Paul McCartney, who was in the audience and also performed at the ceremony, for copying the look.

Adele was also emotional as she was named best new artist, the award won last year by Amy Winehouse. "Thank you so much. I'm going to cry," she said, "I want to thank my manager, my mum, she's in London. And Duffy I love you. I think you're amazing.

Radiohead produced one of the best performances of the night when they took to the stage accompanied by a marching band. They were handed one of their awards by Mrs Chris Martin, better known as the actress Gwyneth Paltrow.