Daft Punk sweep the board at the Grammys

French electronic duo Daft Punk took home five Grammys last night at the celeb-studded awards ceremony in Los Angeles. The Grammy Awards, which are presented by the USA's National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, are intended to recognise outstanding artistic achievement. Awards are often presented to the year's biggest-selling artists. 

Daft Punk swept the boards at the 56th annual awards, taking home trophies for Album of the Year for Random Access Memories and Record of the Year for Get Lucky, as well as Best Group Performance, Best Dance / Electronica Album, and Best Engineered Non-Classical Album. Among this year's other winners were breakthrough R&B diva Lorde, whose Royals won Song of the Year; novelty rap duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, who took home the awards for Best New Artist, plus Best Rap Album, Song and Performance – the duo celebrated by performing Same Love alongside Madonna, while gay couples married live on stage.

Other awards went to Paul McCartney, who shared the Best Rock Song award with remaining Nirvana members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear, beating off stiff competition from The Rolling Stones. McCartney celebrated by performing alongside former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr, their first appearance together since 2010. 

Seemingly unconcerned by notions of impartiality, Jay-Z, who presented the awards ceremony alongside wife Beyoncé, was nominated for nine awards. He took home one, for Best Rap / Sung Collaboration, for his track Holy Grail, featuring Justin Timberlake. British warbler Adele took home a statue for her theme for Skyfall, while Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie won the coveted award for Best Classical Instrument Solo. See the full list of winners on the Grammy site.