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Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance
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| Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance | |
|---|---|
 "Now and Then" by The Beatles is the most recent recipient. | |
| Awarded for | quality vocal or instrumental rock recordings |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |
| Currently held by | The Beatles – "Now and Then" (2025) |
| Website | grammy.com |
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards.[1] According to the 54th Grammy Awards description guide it is designed for solo, duo/groups or collaborative (vocal or instrumental) rock recordings and is limited to singles or tracks only.[2]
This award combines the previous categories for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Rock Instrumental Performance. The restructuring of these categories was a result of the Recording Academy's wish to decrease the list of categories and awards and to eliminate the distinctions between solo and duo/groups performances. The Academy argued that any distinction between these performances is difficult to make, as "four-fifths of rock acts are groups, and even solo rock acts tend to be backed by a band".[3]
The award goes to the artist. The producer, engineer and songwriter can apply for a Winners Certificate.[4]
From 2014, this category has also included hard rock performances that were previously screened in the Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance categories, which are now defunct.
Recipients
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^[I] Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
Artists with multiple nominations
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See also
[edit]- Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance
- Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
- Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
- Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
- Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance
- Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance
- Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
- Grammy Award for Best Rock Song
References
[edit]- ^ "Grammy Awards at a Glance". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ "Category Mapper". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ^ "Grammy Awards restructuring". Archived from the original on December 3, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
- ^ Grammy Blue Book
- ^ Nuggent, Annabel (November 24, 2020). "All Grammy nominees for Best Rock Performance are women for the first time in award's history". The Independent. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
- ^ "2011 – 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees And Winners: Rock Field". The Recording Academy. November 30, 2011.
- ^ "Grammys 2013: Complete list of nominees and winners". Los Angeles Times. February 10, 2013. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
- ^ "2014 Nominees" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
- ^ Grebey, James (December 5, 2014). "Grammys 2015 Nominees: Sam Smith, HAIM, Iggy Azalea, and More". Spin. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- ^ "Awards Nominations & Winners". April 30, 2017.
- ^ "59th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
- ^ "60th Grammy Nominees". Grammy.com. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ Grammy.com, 7 December 2018
- ^ 2021 Nominations List
- ^ "2022 GRAMMYs Awards: Complete Nominations List". GRAMMY.com. November 23, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List". GRAMMYs. November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ "2024 Grammy Nominations: See The Full Nominees List". The Recording Academy. November 10, 2023. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "2025 GRAMMYs: See The Full Winners & Nominees List". The Recording Academy. November 8, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ Faulkner, Clara (November 7, 2025). "2026 Grammys: See The Full Nominations List". The Recording Academy. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
External links
[edit]Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance is an accolade presented annually by the Recording Academy at the Grammy Awards ceremony to recognize excellence in a new vocal or instrumental rock recording by a solo artist, duo, group, or collaboration.[1]
Introduced in 2012 at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards as part of a comprehensive overhaul that reduced the total number of categories from 109 to 78, the award consolidated the previous Best Rock Vocal Performance (solo), Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and Best Rock Instrumental Performance categories to streamline recognition of rock achievements.[2][3] The inaugural recipients were the Foo Fighters for their track "Walk" from the album Wasting Light, marking the band's sweep of five rock categories that year.[4]
Since its inception, the category has highlighted innovative and impactful rock music, often favoring high-energy anthems and genre-blending works from veteran acts. The Foo Fighters hold the record for the most wins with two, for "Walk" (2012) and "Making a Fire" (2022).[5] Posthumous honors have included David Bowie's experimental "Blackstar" in 2017 and Leonard Cohen's "You Want It Darker" in 2018, underscoring the award's role in celebrating enduring artistic legacies.[6] In 2025, at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, The Beatles received the accolade for "Now and Then," their AI-assisted single released in 2023, representing a historic nod to the band's influence decades after their breakup.[1] The category continues to evolve, reflecting rock's adaptability while maintaining focus on standout single performances rather than full albums or songs.[7]
From 2012 to 2025, the winners show a mix of established bands (7 wins) and solo artists (7 wins), with a trend toward alternative and indie rock influences in recent years, alongside occasional nods to blues and classic rock revivals.[1]
Unique patterns emerge in cross-category success, where artists like the Foo Fighters have won both Best Rock Performance and Best Alternative Music Album, blending rock and alternative boundaries—such as their 2021 Alternative Album win for Medicine at Midnight alongside the 2022 Performance award from the same project.[50] Similarly, boygenius achieved a 2024 win here for "Not Strong Enough" while earning nominations in Best Rock Song, illustrating overlaps that amplify genre-blending impact.[1] As of the 2025 ceremony, where The Beatles claimed their first win in this category for "Now and Then," these repeat achievers continue to shape the award's legacy of honoring innovative rock expressions.[58]
Overview
Category Description
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance is a category presented annually by the Recording Academy to honor artistic excellence in a solo, duo/group, or collaborative rock recording, encompassing both vocal and instrumental works limited to singles or tracks. Introduced at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in 2012, it resulted from a major restructuring of rock categories that eliminated gender-specific distinctions and consolidated prior awards such as Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and Best Rock Instrumental Performance into a unified field.[8][9] This category specifically recognizes the performance aspect of a rock song, awarding the featured artist(s) and producers, while excluding full-length albums or compilations. Eligible entries must feature newly recorded material in a rock style, with no minimum playing time beyond the track itself, and vocal performances are ineligible for instrumental categories regardless of production techniques like scatting or beatboxing.[10][9] It differs from the Best Rock Song award, which focuses on songwriting and composition credited to the lyricists and composers, and the Best Rock Album category, which evaluates complete album releases for overall artistic merit. As of the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in 2025, the category maintains its broad scope without recent boundary adjustments, incorporating diverse rock subgenres such as alternative rock and hard rock as long as they align with the genre's stylistic intent, though the Academy does not rigidly define "rock" to allow interpretive flexibility. Note that eligibility periods have shifted in recent years from the traditional October 1 to September 30 window to earlier dates, such as September 16, 2023, to August 30, 2024, for the 2025 awards.[1][11][10][12] Prior to 2012, rock performance recognition was fragmented across multiple gendered and format-specific categories, reflecting an earlier era of genre classification.Award Eligibility and Process
To be eligible for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance, recordings must consist of newly created material released during the eligibility period, from September 16, 2023, to August 30, 2024, for the 2025 awards (with recent years shifting from the prior October 1 to September 30 standard).[12] Entries must be commercially available through national distribution channels, including physical sales, streaming services, or online retailers, and require an International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) or Universal Product Code (UPC) for verification; limited-edition or subscription-only releases do not qualify unless broadly accessible.[7] Performers and contributors must be properly credited with significant artistic involvement, and all human creators are eligible, though AI-generated elements necessitate substantial human authorship.[13] The submission process is managed through the Recording Academy's Online Entry Process (OEP) portal on GRAMMY.com, accessible to Academy members and registered media companies.[14] Entries incur fees based on timing and status—ranging from $40 for early member submissions to $125 for late or non-member entries—and must include streaming links, track details, and credits; for the 2026 awards, the OEP window was July 16 to August 29, 2025, with physical product submissions due by early September.[15] Late October cutoffs apply strictly, and entries are screened by genre committees to ensure alignment with rock performance criteria, such as predominant original rock-style vocals or instrumentals.[16] Nominations are determined during First Round Voting by a subset of the Academy's over 13,000 voting members (as of 2024) who specialize in the rock field, conducted via secret ballot from October 3 to 15 each year to select up to eight nominees per category.[17][18] The final winner is chosen by the full voting membership in a subsequent secret ballot, typically from mid-December to early January, ensuring broad peer review.[16] Nominations are announced in November, with the awards ceremony held in February; for instance, the 2025 awards, covering material from September 2023 to August 2024, took place on February 2, 2025.[1]History
Establishment and Early Years
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance was established in 2012 by the Recording Academy as part of a comprehensive restructuring of the Grammy categories, which reduced the total from 109 to 78 to streamline the awards process, ensure genre parity, and better reflect evolving music trends. This new category consolidated prior rock performance awards, including Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and Best Rock Instrumental Performance, aiming to broaden representation across rock's diverse styles and eliminate distinctions in vocal categories. Prior to 2012, these separate categories had recognized vocal and instrumental rock works since the 1980s and 1990s, providing a foundation for the unified award.[19][8] The inaugural award was presented at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012, honoring material released in 2011, and went to the Foo Fighters for their track "Walk" from the album Wasting Light. This win marked a strong debut for the category, highlighting the enduring appeal of alternative rock bands in the post-2000s era. Early nominations and winners reflected a revival of garage, indie, and classic rock influences, with established acts dominating the initial years. For instance, in 2013, the Black Keys won for "Lonely Boy," capturing the raw energy of blues-infused garage rock amid a landscape where physical sales were declining but digital platforms were gaining traction.[20][21] From 2013 to 2015, the category showcased the prominence of veteran and mainstream rock artists, including nominations for Bruce Springsteen ("We Take Care of Our Own" in 2013) and wins by Imagine Dragons for "Radioactive" in 2014 and Jack White for "Lazaretto" in 2015, emphasizing high-energy anthems and solo virtuosity. By 2014, the award began incorporating a wider array of rock subgenres, from alternative to experimental, as evidenced by eclectic nominee lists that spanned indie, pop-rock hybrids, and legacy acts. This evolution continued through the late 2010s, with victories by Alabama Shakes ("Don't Wanna Fight" in 2016), David Bowie ("Blackstar" in 2017), Leonard Cohen ("You Want It Darker" in 2018), and Chris Cornell ("When Bad Does Good" in 2019), reflecting the category's adaptability to emerging hybrid styles. These years aligned with the music industry's shift toward streaming, which surged from 7% of U.S. revenue in 2010 to 80% by 2019, enabling greater visibility for rock tracks beyond traditional radio and sales.[22][23]Evolution and Category Changes
In the mid-2010s, the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance underwent adjustments to encompass a wider array of rock subgenres, notably including progressive rock elements, as demonstrated by the nomination of Florence + The Machine's "What Kind of Man" in 2016, which highlighted the category's openness to experimental sounds.[24] This evolution responded to the music industry's declining physical sales, with the Recording Academy emphasizing digital performances and standalone singles to align with the growing dominance of streaming platforms and online distribution. By prioritizing accessible digital releases, the category better captured contemporary rock consumption patterns without restricting eligibility to full-length albums. Entering the 2020s, the award intensified its focus on inclusivity, leading to a surge in nominations for female-led bands and international artists, such as the historic all-female-led slate in 2021 featuring Fiona Apple, Big Thief, Phoebe Bridgers, HAIM, Brittany Howard, and Grace Potter.[25] In 2023, rule tweaks expanded eligibility to hybrid rock/electronic works, allowing entries that blend traditional rock instrumentation with electronic production, as outlined in updated genre descriptions to foster innovation across boundaries.[26] These changes reflected the Academy's commitment to reflecting rock's global and diverse evolution, with recent nominations including Australian act Amyl and the Sniffers in 2026.[27] External factors have further shaped the category's trajectory. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a fully virtual format for the 2021 ceremony, with pre-recorded performances replacing live sets to ensure safety amid restrictions, influencing how rock acts presented their work. By 2024 and 2025, nominations trended toward indie rock amid major label dominance, spotlighting underground acts like IDLES and Turnstile alongside legacy names, signaling a resurgence of grassroots creativity in the genre.[11] Key statistical shifts underscore these adaptations. Starting in 2018, the Recording Academy expanded potential nominations from 5 to 8 across categories based on voting ties, enabling broader representation in rock selections, as seen in the 6 nominees for Best Rock Performance in 2021.[28] Diversity metrics evolved markedly, with male-dominated winners comprising 90% in 2012 dropping to 60% by 2025, driven by increased female and non-binary inclusions amid industry-wide equity initiatives.[29][30]Recipients
Complete List of Winners
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance was established in 2012, replacing separate categories for solo and group performances to recognize outstanding vocal or instrumental rock recordings.[31]| Year | Winner(s) | Work (Song Title) | Nominees (Top 5) | Note on Winning Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Foo Fighters | "Walk" | Coldplay ("Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"); The Decemberists ("Down by the Water"); Mumford & Sons ("The Cave"); Bruce Springsteen ("We Take Care of Our Own") | This high-energy alternative rock track from the album Wasting Light features driving guitars and anthemic vocals, marking the Foo Fighters' sweep of rock categories that year.[32][33] |
| 2013 | The Black Keys | "Lonely Boy" | Alabama Shakes ("Hold On"); Coldplay ("Charlie Brown"); Mumford & Sons ("I Will Wait"); Bruce Springsteen ("We Take Care of Our Own") | The garage rock single's raw, riff-driven sound and infectious energy captured a revival of blues-infused rock.[21][34] |
| 2014 | Imagine Dragons | "Radioactive" | Alabama Shakes ("Always Alright"); David Bowie ("The Stars (Are Out Tonight)"); Led Zeppelin ("Kashmir" [Live]); Queens of the Stone Age ("My God Is the Sun") | Blending alternative rock with electronic elements, the track's intense build-up and dystopian themes propelled it to mainstream success.[35][36] |
| 2015 | Jack White | "Lazaretto" | Arctic Monkeys ("Do I Wanna Know?"); Beck ("Blue Moon"); Ryan Adams ("Gimme Something Good"); The Black Keys ("Fever") | The blues-rock song showcases White's virtuosic guitar work and raw, garage-style intensity from his solo album of the same name.[37][38] |
| 2016 | Alabama Shakes | "Don't Wanna Fight" | Florence + the Machine ("What Kind of Man"); Foo Fighters ("Something from Nothing"); Elle King ("Ex's & Oh's"); Wolf Alice ("Moaning Lisa Smile") | Rooted in Southern rock and soul, the track's gritty vocals and organ-driven groove highlight the band's live-wire energy.[39][40] |
| 2017 | David Bowie | "Blackstar" | Alabama Shakes ("Joe" [Live from Austin City Limits]); The Killers ft. Bruce Springsteen ("Dustland"); Metallica ("Moth into Flame"); Twenty One Pilots ("Heathens") | The experimental art rock piece, released days before Bowie's death, blends jazz influences with avant-garde production.[6][41] |
| 2018 | Leonard Cohen | "You Want It Darker" | Chris Cornell ("The Promise"); Foo Fighters ("Run"); Kaleo ("No Good"); Queens of the Stone Age ("The Way You Used to Do") | This introspective folk-rock track from Cohen's final album features brooding baritone vocals and orchestral depth.[42][43] |
| 2019 | Chris Cornell | "When Bad Does Good" | Arctic Monkeys ("Four Out of Five"); Beck ("Colors"); Fever 333 ("Made an America"); Greta Van Fleet ("Highway Tune") | The posthumous hard rock entry draws from Cornell's career-spanning influences with powerful, emotive delivery.[44][45] |
| 2020 | Gary Clark Jr. | "This Land" | Bones UK ("Pretty Waste"); The Cold War Kids ft. Maggie Rogers ("Run Away With Me"); Rival Sons ("Do Your Worst"); Tools ("7empest") | Infused with blues-rock and social commentary, the guitar-heavy track reflects Clark's fiery, improvisational style.[46][47] |
| 2021 | Fiona Apple | "Shameika" | Big Thief ("Not"); Brittany Howard ("Stay High"); Haim ("The Steps"); Phoebe Bridgers ("Kyoto") | The indie rock song's piano-driven introspection and poetic lyrics evoke Apple's signature confessional style.[48][49] |
| 2022 | Foo Fighters | "Making a Fire" | AC/DC ("Shot in the Dark"); Black Pumas ("Know You Better" [Live from Capitol Studio A]); Courtney Barnett ("Rae Street"); Yeah Yeah Yeahs ("Burning") | Classic hard rock riffs and soaring harmonies define the track from the band's final album with drummer Taylor Hawkins.[50][51] |
| 2023 | Brandi Carlile | "Broken Horses" | Beck ("Old Man"); The Black Keys ("Wild Child"); Bryan Adams ("So Happy It Hurts"); Idles ("Crawl!") | The Americana-rock ballad's raw acoustic guitar and heartfelt storytelling capture themes of loss and resilience.[52][53] |
| 2024 | boygenius | "Not Strong Enough" | Arctic Monkeys ("I Wanna Be Yours"); Foo Fighters ("Rescue Me"); Lana Del Rey & Jon Batiste ("Candy Necklace"); Metallica ("Lux Æterna"); Queens of the Stone Age ("Emotion Sickness") | The indie rock trio's harmonious vocals and minimalist arrangement blend vulnerability with subtle folk-rock edges.[54][55] |
| 2025 | The Beatles | "Now and Then" | The Black Keys ("Beautiful People (Stay High)"); Green Day ("The American Dream Is Killing Me"); Idles ("Gift Horse"); Pearl Jam ("Dark Matter"); St. Vincent ("Broken Man") | This psychedelic ballad, completed using AI-assisted restoration of a 1970s Lennon demo, revives classic Beatles melodic introspection.[56][57] |
Artists with Multiple Wins and Nominations
The Foo Fighters are the leading recipients in the Best Rock Performance category, with two wins for "Walk" in 2012 and "Making a Fire" in 2022.[51] These victories highlight the band's consistent dominance in rock performance recognition, often coinciding with broader sweeps in related rock categories like Best Rock Album and Best Rock Song. Dave Grohl, as the frontman, has further extended his personal tally through collaborative efforts, including a win for "Cut Me Some Slack" with the Sound City Players in the Best Rock Song category in 2014, demonstrating his recurring influence across rock subcategories. David Bowie received a posthumous honor for "Blackstar" in 2017, released just days before his death and celebrated as a career-capping achievement.[6] In terms of nominations, Foo Fighters lead with four appearances (2012, 2016, 2018, 2024), securing two wins. Alabama Shakes follow with four nominations (2013, 2014, 2016 win, 2017), including one victory. Other artists with multiple nominations include Queens of the Stone Age (three: 2014, 2018, 2024), Idles (two: 2023, 2025), and Beck (three: 2015 win, 2019, 2023).[1]| Artist | Wins | Years and Songs |
|---|---|---|
| Foo Fighters | 2 | 2012 ("Walk"), 2022 ("Making a Fire") |
| Artist | Nominations | Wins | Win Rate | Notable Nominations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foo Fighters | 4 | 2 | 50% | 2012 ("Walk", win), 2016 ("Something from Nothing"), 2018 ("Run"), 2024 ("Rescue Me") |
| Alabama Shakes | 4 | 1 | 25% | 2013 ("Hold On"), 2014 ("Always Alright"), 2016 ("Don't Wanna Fight", win), 2017 ("Joe" [Live]) |
| Beck | 3 | 1 | 33% | 2015 ("Blue Moon", win), 2019 ("Colors"), 2023 ("Old Man") |
| Idles | 2 | 0 | 0% | 2023 ("Crawl!"), 2025 ("Gift Horse") |
| Queens of the Stone Age | 3 | 0 | 0% | 2014 ("My God Is the Sun"), 2018 ("The Way You Used to Do"), 2024 ("Emotion Sickness") |