CLASSIC ROCK DOMINATES BIG STATUES

Bobby Kimball Reflects on Toto's Record 7 GRAMMY Awards in 1982

U2 -- Record of the Year "All That You Can't Leave Behind"

Steely Dan -- Album of the Year "Two Against Nature"

Steely Dan at the GRAMMYs Photo by: Frank Micelotta / ImageDirect

The hype revolved around Eminem, but when it came to "show me the money" good "old time rock and rollers" dominated the 43rd Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Classic Rock icons Steely Dan and U2 captured several of the GRAMMY's most prestigious awards at last night's telecast in Los Angeles. In fact, it was classic rock that received critical acclaim from the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, winning awards for single and album performance, in addition to song-writing honors.

Legendary Steely Dan was honored with three GRAMMYs, including the awards for Album of the Year and Best Pop Album, for their album "Two Against Nature." The group also garnered the GRAMMY for Best Pop Vocal by a Group. These are the first GRAMMYs that Steely Dan has won in their 19 year history.

U2 at the GRAMMYs Photo by: Scott Gries / ImageDirect

Irish rockers U2 received GRAMMYs for: Best Rock Vocal Performance, Song of the Year for "A Beautiful Day," from their album, "All That You Can't Leave Behind," which won Record of the Year. Song of the Year is presented to honor song-writing, while Record of the Year honors a recorded performance.

"We see ourselves as just another Irish boy band," said a playful Bono Wednesday night after U2 came away from the 43rd Annual GRAMMYs with the 3 awards. Gesturing to his bandmates behind him, Bono added, "Actually it's hard to find four people this good-looking who are willing to write and record and perform together." The Edge then leaned into Bono's mic and provided (amongst other tidbits of personal trivia) the succinct secret to the band's success. "The band that plays together, stays together."

"It looks like a classic rock clean sweep in terms of the prestigious awards," commented GRAMMY veteran Bobby Kimball, "excellent value for those guys. It's great to see classic work receive the recognition that it deserves, overcoming some of the more commercial or trendy competition. I'd say the Album of the Year (Steely Dan's "Two Against Nature.") award was a big surprise . . . I loved it!"