Grammy success tees up U2 for memorable week.

U2's outstanding contribution award at tonight's (Monday) Brits will seal a triumphant week for the band on the back of their best Grammys showing yet.

The Universal Island UK-signed act captured three prizes for Beautiful Day at the 43rd annual event at Los Angeles' Staples Center last Wednesday, winning record of the year, song of the year and best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal. Their three wins came despite the band's current album All That You Can't Leave Behind having been released outside the eligibility period.

Universal Island international director Steve Matthews says the sales reaction to the wins has been amazing, including from Latin America and South East Asia. "This is the start of phase two," he says. "Beautiful Day took us through to Christmas and we're at radio with Walk On in America, which is the second single there. These wins open up phase two fantastically."

U2's latest Grammy triumphs are the band's first since they took the best music video prize for Zoo TV -- Live From Sydney in 1995. They also beat their previous best Grammy showings achieved in 1988 when they collected two honours for Joshua Tree, including album of the year, and the following year when they won for Desire and Where The Streets Have No Name. All That You Can't Leave Behind had already by last week sold 1.9m units over the counter ...