Chili Peppers, Timberlake & Gnarls Lead Early Grammy Winners

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Justin Timberlake and Gnarls Barkley were big winners at last night's Grammy Awards before the prizegiving ceremony started.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers claimed three of the 95 awards announced before the show got underway at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The rock veterans claimed Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal and Best Rock Song for Dani California, while their album Stadium Arcadium picked up the Grammy for Best Boxed (Set) Or Special Limited Edition Package.

Gnarls Barkley also claimed a trio of early gongs, taking home Best Alternative Music Album for St Elsewhere, Best Urban/Alternative Performance and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for 2006 summer anthem Crazy.

Timberlake, who was fighting flu at the Grammys, picked up a pre-ceremony prize for Best Dance Recording (Sexy Back).

Meanwhile, 2007 Grammy Awards queen Mary J Blige, who led the pack with eight nominations, claimed her first award before she took her seat - Best R&B Song for Be Without You.

Other early Grammy winners include:

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album: Walk The Line - Joaquin Phoenix & Various Artists

Best Score Soundtrack Album: Memoirs Of A Geisha - John Williams

Best Song Written For Motion Picture/Television: Our Town (from Cars) - Randy Newman/James Taylor

Best Instrumental Composition: A Prayer For Peace - John Williams

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: Waiting On The World To Change - John Mayer

Best Electronic/Dance Album: Confessions On A Dance Floor - Madonna

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance: Someday Baby - Bob Dylan

Best Contemporary R&B Album: B'day - Beyonce

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: Not Ready To Make Nice - Dixie Chicks