U2 Shows Wisdom of Age En Route to 4-Grammy Win

If "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own," let the Grammy Awards help.

Irish longevity rockers U2 scored four awards at tonight's Grammy ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year for "Sometimes..." and Best Rock Album.

But don't cry for his runners-up: Mariah Carey, John Legend and Kanye West each took home three of the golden gramophones.

Carey won during the underhyped pre-show awards but, despite her gospel-infused performance, failed to pick up the sweep many industry insiders had predicted. John Legend was handed Best New Artist, which he accepted humbly on behalf of his hometown of Springfield, Ohio.

As for West, whose controversial quotes make him an unknown quantity, he poked fun at his own image by joking before his performance, "Start your five-second tape delays now." He took home Best Rap Song, Best Rap Song and Best Rap Solo Performance.

Green Day took home Record of the Year for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" for their now several times platinum rock opera, "American Idiot."

During U2's acceptance for Album of the Year for "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," Bono (Paul Huston) complimented runners-up Gwen Stefani, Mariah Carey, Kanye West and Paul McCartney, then dedicated the award to the "atomic bomb" of the title, his late father Bob Huston.

Highlights of the three-hour broadcast included a tribute to Sly and the Family Stone complete with a surprise appearance (his first in 19 years!) by the reclusive artist; Kelly Clarkson's tearful joy when picking up her first of two awards that night (Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Song for "Since U Been Gone"); a marching band stomp-off between Kanye West and Jamie Foxx featuring the brothers of mock fraternity Broke Phi Broke; and Paul McCartney stepping into a performance by Jay-Z and Linkin Park to perform a rap-infused "Yesterday."

Lifetime Achievement Award honorees included Eric Clapton's former rock band Cream; David Bowie; Robert Johnson and Merle Haggard.

The last time U2 was honored at the Grammys was in 2001 on the heels of their then-new album "Beautiful Day." West lost Best New Artist last year to Maroon 5 and then complained bitterly about it (another quote he spoofed during his stage show).

As promised, Gorillaz and Madonna opened the show in a network first, with the cartoon act and the pop diva dueting for about 30 seconds before the chords of Gorillaz's "Feel Good Inc." faded into the synth of "Hung Up," the Material Girl's latest.