Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance
The Grammy Awards ceremony began in 1958 under the name Gramophone Awards. By the time of the 54th Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy decided to merge three separate rock categories into one single award. The previous awards included Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. They also had a category for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. The Academy argued that distinguishing between solo acts and groups was difficult because four-fifths of rock acts are groups. Even solo rock artists often perform backed by a band. This restructuring aimed to decrease the total number of categories available at the ceremony.
Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters won the first version of this new award in 2012. Their winning song was titled Walk. The Recording Academy presented this trophy to recognize their specific track rather than an entire album. The Foo Fighters were established as the inaugural winners of the category. The Black Keys followed them the next year with their hit Lonely Boy. Imagine Dragons took the prize in 2014 with Radioactive. Jack White received the award in 2015 for his song Lazaretto. These early years set a pattern for recognizing individual tracks within the broader rock genre.
David Bowie received posthumous honors in 2017 for his work on Blackstar. Leonard Cohen won the same award after his death in 2018 with You Want It Darker. Chris Cornell also received a posthumous win in 2019 for When Bad Does Good. These victories highlighted how the Recording Academy handles legacy artists who pass away before or during the eligibility period. The awards served as tributes to their final creative contributions. Each artist left behind a significant body of work that continued to resonate with listeners and critics alike.
Fiona Apple became the first solo female winner of this category in 2021. Her winning track was Shameika. This victory marked the first time an all-female lineup appeared in the history of the award. She had previously won the Best Female Rock Vocal Performance trophy with Criminal in 1998. Brandi Carlile followed her success in 2023 with Broken Horses. Boygenius took the prize in 2024 with Not Strong Enough. These milestones demonstrated a shift toward recognizing diverse voices within the rock landscape over recent years.
Starting from 2014, this category included hard rock performances that were previously screened separately. The defunct subcategories included Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance. Linkin Park submitted The Emptiness Machine for consideration in later years. Turnstile offered Never Enough as a nominee in subsequent cycles. Hayley Williams presented Mirtazapine as a contender during the eligibility period. Amyl and the Sniffers also competed with U Should Not Be Doing That. The integration allowed heavier sounds to compete alongside traditional rock styles without separate classification.
Brittany Howard holds six nominations including four with Alabama Shakes. Foo Fighters have received five nominations throughout their career. The Black Keys also hold four nominations for their work. Arctic Monkeys earned three nominations while Chris Cornell secured three as well. Jack White accumulated three nominations across his solo and group projects. Beck and Coldplay each received two nominations. Phoebe Bridgers earned one nomination with Boygenius. Turnstile also received two nominations during the competition years. These statistics highlight artists who consistently appear on the ballot year after year.
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Common questions
When did the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance category begin?
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance began in 2012 when Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters won the first version of this new award. The Recording Academy merged three separate rock categories into one single award by the time of the 54th Grammy Awards.
Which artists received posthumous Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance awards between 2017 and 2019?
David Bowie received posthumous honors in 2017 for his work on Blackstar, Leonard Cohen won after his death in 2018 with You Want It Darker, and Chris Cornell also received a posthumous win in 2019 for When Bad Does Good. These victories highlighted how the Recording Academy handles legacy artists who pass away before or during the eligibility period.
Who was the first solo female winner of the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance?
Fiona Apple became the first solo female winner of this category in 2021 with her winning track Shameika. This victory marked the first time an all-female lineup appeared in the history of the award.
What subcategories were merged to create the current Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance category?
The defunct subcategories included Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance which started from 2014. The previous awards also included Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal along with Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
How many nominations does Brittany Howard hold for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance?
Brittany Howard holds six nominations including four with Alabama Shakes. She is among the artists who consistently appear on the ballot year after year alongside Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters who have received five nominations throughout their career.