Radiohead win early Grammy double

Radiohead had two awards before the main ceremony started

Radiohead took two early prizes as British acts geared up for the US music industry's most prestigious awards ceremony, the Grammys.

The rock band took best alternative album for In Rainbows in the initial stages of the Los Angeles ceremony.

They then followed it up with best boxed or special edition album.

Adele won best pop vocal performance for Chasing Pavements while Duffy won best pop vocal album. The main part of the ceremony gets under way shortly.

US rapper Lil Wayne had the most nominations, eight in total, for his album Tha Carter III. He took three awards in the early part of the ceremony, but lost best rap/sung collaboration to Estelle and Kanye West's American Boy.

Coldplay led the British charge with seven nominations, including best rock album and song of the year. They took one prize for Viva La Vida - pop performance by a duo or group with vocals - but lost out on two others.

They lead a British-only shortlist for record of the year with Adele, X Factor winner Leona Lewis and MIA also vying for the trophy.

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant's work has been critically acclaimed

Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant gets a nomination alongside American bluegrass star Alison Krauss.

The pair took two prizes in the early part of the ceremony - contemporary folk/Americana album, and country collaboration with vocals for Killing The Blues.

'Beautiful cake'

Performers at the Staples Center are due to include MIA - whose baby is expected on the day of the ceremony.

Other early winners, announced ahead of the main ceremony, included late comedian George Carlin.

His daughter Kelly Carlin-McCall accepted the comedy album prize for It's Bad For Ya, released last July following his death from a heart attack aged 71.

"It's like the cherry on the top of a really, big beautiful cake," Ms Carlin-McCall said backstage. "I'm just so happy people are honouring my father, yet he's not here and I'd rather have him."

R&B stat Al Green, gospel performer Kirk Franklin, French dance duo Daft Punk, country singer Brad Paisley and R&B singer/songwriter Ne-Yo took two prizes each in the early part of the ceremony, along with British rocker Peter Gabriel, honoured for his work on Pixar cartoon Wall-E.

Last year, Amy Winehouse won five Grammys despite not being able to travel to the US to accept them.

She performed for the audience via a satellite link.