It was a bleak ceremony for British artists who were shunned at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles early today.

Singer James Blunt, who had been nominated in five categories, including best newcomer, best record and best song, came away with no awards.

Corinne Bailey Rae and Imogen Heap also lost out in the newcomer category to former American Idol winner Carrie Underwood.

Others who went home empty-handed included the Arctic Monkeys, Goldfrapp, Coldplay and the Pet Shop Boys.

Only Kent-born Peter Frampton salvaged some British pride when he took the best pop instrumental album award for Fingerprints.

The only other moment of British glory came when The Police reunited to open the show with a rendition of breakthrough hit Roxanne 23 years after splitting up.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are The Police and we're back!" frontman Sting announced as he took to the stage sporting a black waistcoat over a bare chest and his classic 1980s bleach-blonde spiked crop.

He, drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers, who are expected to reform for a comeback tour this year, clasped hands to take a bow.

The undoubted stars of the night were the Dixie Chicks, who proved their rehabilitation was complete, picking up a clutch of gongs almost four years after outraging middle America with anti-George Bush comments on the eve of the Iraq war.

The band endured death threats, public CD burnings and country radio boycotts after lead singer Natalie Maines told gig-goers in London in March 2003 she was "ashamed" the president was from her home state of Texas.

But this year they led the field at the Grammys with five awards, including best record and best song for their no-regrets anthem Not Ready to Make Nice.

Dixie Chicks also won best country album, a particularly ironic triumph given the fury of the country community over their Bush comment, and the fact they no longer consider themselves country artists.

"I'm ready to make nice," Maines said as they accepted the best record trophy. "I think people are using their freedom of speech with all of these awards."

Bandmate Emily Robison thanked the trio's core fans for sticking with them through the tough times.

"We wouldn't have done this album without everything we went through, so we have no regrets," she said.

The standing ovations received by the Dixie Chicks were a telling illustration of how far Americans had swung against the Iraq war and Mr Bush.

Mary J Blige was another big winner, with three awards for double-platinum album The Breakthrough. A tearful Blige said it showed she was "growing into a better human being."

Beyonce had four nominations, but ended up winning only one - Contemporary R&B Album for B'Day.