Grammy Award for Best Rock Song
Honor presented to recording artists for quality rock songs
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Song is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards , a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards,[ 1] to recording artists for quality songs in the rock music genre. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".[ 2]
The award, reserved for songwriters, was first presented to English musician Sting in 1992. According to the category description guide for the 52nd Grammy Awards , the award honors new songs (containing both melody and lyrics) or songs "first achieving prominence" during the period of eligibility. Songs containing prominent samples or interpolations are not eligible.[ 3]
The award goes to the songwriter. If the song contains samples or interpolations of earlier songs, the publisher and the original songwriter(s) can apply for a Winners Certificate.[ 4]
Bruce Springsteen , Dave Grohl and Pat Smear hold the record for the most wins, having won four awards each. Springsteen also holds the record for most nominations with nine. Other winners of multiple awards include the other members of Foo Fighters (Taylor Hawkins , Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett ) with three wins, and Alanis Morissette and the bands Red Hot Chili Peppers and U2 , each with two. Award-winning songs have been performed by American artists more than any other nationality, though they have also been performed by musicians or groups originating from Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. There have been four instances in which one artist or group was nominated for two works in the same year: the group Aerosmith was nominated for both "Cryin' " and "Livin' on the Edge " in 1994, Melissa Etheridge received nominations for "Come to My Window " and "I'm the Only One " in 1995, Jakob Dylan of the Wallflowers won for "One Headlight " and was also nominated for "The Difference " in 1998, and U2 was nominated for the songs "Elevation " and "Walk On " in 2002. Chad Smith also received two nominations in 2023, receiving songwriting credits for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ozzy Osbourne songs nominated. Coldplay holds the record for the most nominations without a win, with four.
Recipients
Sting became the first award recipient in 1992 for the song "The Soul Cages ".
Eric Clapton , 1993 award recipient for the song "Layla ", performing in 2017
Members of the 1994 award-winning band Soul Asylum in 2010
Four-time award winner Bruce Springsteen , performing in 1988
Two-time award recipient Alanis Morissette , performing in 2014
1997 award recipient Tracy Chapman at the 2009 Cactus Festival in Bruges, Belgium
Jakob Dylan , 1998 award winner for the song "One Headlight " and member of The Wallflowers , performing in 2007
Jack White and Meg White of the 2004 award-winning band The White Stripes
Members of the two-time award-winning band U2 , performing on the Joshua Tree Tour 2017 . From left to right: Larry Mullen, Jr. (drumming), the Edge , Bono , and Adam Clayton
From left to right, Matthew , Caleb , and Nathan Followill of the 2010 award-winning band Kings of Leon , performing in 2007
2019 recipient St. Vincent performing at Glastonbury (2022)
2020 recipient Gary Clark Jr. performing in 2013
Year
Recipient(s)
Work
Performing artist(s)
Nominees (Performer(s) in parentheses)
Ref.
1992
Sting
"The Soul Cages "
Sting
[ 5]
1993
Eric Clapton Jim Gordon
"Layla " (Unplugged version)
Eric Clapton
[ 6]
1994
Dave Pirner
"Runaway Train "
Soul Asylum
[ 7]
1995
Bruce Springsteen
"Streets of Philadelphia "
Bruce Springsteen
[ 8]
1996
Alanis Morissette Glen Ballard
"You Oughta Know "
Alanis Morissette
[ 9]
1997
Tracy Chapman
"Give Me One Reason "
Tracy Chapman
[ 10]
1998
Jakob Dylan
"One Headlight "
The Wallflowers
[ 11]
1999
Alanis Morissette
"Uninvited "
Alanis Morissette
[ 12]
2000
Flea John Frusciante Anthony Kiedis Chad Smith
"Scar Tissue "
Red Hot Chili Peppers
[ 13]
2001
Scott Stapp Mark Tremonti
"With Arms Wide Open "
Creed
[ 14]
2002
Charlie Colin Rob HotchkissPat Monahan Jimmy Stafford Scott Underwood
"Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) "
Train
Marti Frederiksen , Steven Tyler – "Jaded " (Aerosmith )
Guy Berryman , Jonny Buckland , Will Champion , Chris Martin – "Yellow " (Coldplay )
Bono , Adam Clayton , The Edge and Larry Mullen, Jr. – "Elevation " (U2)
Bono, Clayton, The Edge, Mullen – "Walk On " (U2)
[ 15]
2003
Bruce Springsteen
"The Rising "
Bruce Springsteen
[ 16]
2004
Jack White
"Seven Nation Army "
The White Stripes
[ 17]
2005
Bono Adam Clayton The Edge Larry Mullen, Jr.
"Vertigo "
U2
Billie Joe Armstrong , Mike Dirnt , Tré Cool – "American Idiot " (Green Day )
Brandon Flowers , Dave Keuning , Mark Stoermer , Ronnie Vannucci Jr. – "Somebody Told Me " (The Killers )
Isaac Brock , Dann Gallucci , Eric Judy , Benjamin Weikel – "Float On " (Modest Mouse )
Duff , Dave Kushner , Slash , Matt Sorum , Scott Weiland – "Fall to Pieces " (Velvet Revolver )
[ 18]
2006
Bono Adam Clayton The Edge Larry Mullen, Jr.
"City of Blinding Lights "
U2
[ 19]
2007
Flea John Frusciante Anthony Kiedis Chad Smith
"Dani California "
Red Hot Chili Peppers
[ 20]
2008
Bruce Springsteen
"Radio Nowhere "
Bruce Springsteen
[ 21]
2009
Bruce Springsteen
"Girls in Their Summer Clothes "
Bruce Springsteen
Guy Berryman , Jonny Buckland , Will Champion , Chris Martin – "Violet Hill " (Coldplay )
Ben Gibbard , Nick Harmer , Jason McGerr , Chris Walla – "I Will Possess Your Heart " (Death Cab for Cutie )
Caleb Followill , Jared Followill , Matthew Followill , Nathan Followill – "Sex on Fire " (Kings of Leon)
Colin Greenwood , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Phil Selway , Thom Yorke – "House of Cards " (Radiohead)
[ 22]
2010
Caleb Followill Jared Followill Matthew Followill Nathan Followill
"Use Somebody "
Kings of Leon
[ 23]
2011
Neil Young
"Angry World "
Neil Young
[ 24]
2012
Dave Grohl Taylor Hawkins Nate Mendel Chris Shiflett Pat Smear
"Walk "
Foo Fighters
Guy Berryman , Jonny Buckland , Will Champion , Chris Martin – "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall " (Coldplay )
Ted Dwane , Ben Lovett , Marcus Mumford , Winston Marshall – "The Cave " (Mumford & Sons )
Colin Meloy – "Down by the Water " (The Decemberists )
Colin Greenwood , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Phil Selway , Thom Yorke – "Lotus Flower " (Radiohead )
[ 25]
2013
Dan Auerbach Brian Burton Patrick Carney
"Lonely Boy "
The Black Keys
2014
Dave Grohl Paul McCartney Krist Novoselic Pat Smear
"Cut Me Some Slack "
Paul McCartney and Nirvana
[ 26]
2015
Hayley Williams Taylor York
"Ain't It Fun "
Paramore
[ 27]
2016
Zac Cockrell Heath FoggBrittany Howard Steve Johnson
"Don't Wanna Fight "
Alabama Shakes
[ 24]
2017
David Bowie
"Blackstar "
David Bowie
[ 24]
2018
Dave Grohl Taylor Hawkins Rami Jaffee Nate Mendel Chris Shiflett Pat Smear
"Run "
Foo Fighters
James Hetfield , Lars Ulrich – "Atlas, Rise! " (Metallica )
Kristine Flaherty , Justin Daly – "Blood in the Cut " (K.Flay )
Ben Anderson, Jonny Hawkins, Will Hoffman, Daniel Oliver, David Pramik, Mark Vollelunga – "Go to War " (Nothing More )
Zachary Baker, Brian Haner , Matthew Sanders , Jonathan Seward, Brooks Wackerman – "The Stage " (Avenged Sevenfold )
[ 28]
2019
Jack Antonoff Annie Clark
"Masseduction"
St. Vincent
[ 29]
2020
Gary Clark Jr.
"This Land "
Gary Clark Jr.
2021
Brittany Howard
"Stay High "
Brittany Howard
[ 30]
2022
Dave Grohl Taylor Hawkins Rami Jaffee Nate Mendel Chris Shiflett Pat Smear
"Waiting on a War "
Foo Fighters
[ 31]
2023
Brandi Carlile Phil Hanseroth Tim Hanseroth
"Broken Horses"
Brandi Carlile
Flea , John Frusciante , Anthony Kiedis , Chad Smith – "Black Summer " (Red Hot Chili Peppers )
Brady Ebert, Daniel Fang, Franz Lyons, Pat McCrory, Brendan Yates – "Blackout" (Turnstile )
Robbie Bennett, Adam Granduciel – "Harmonia's Dream" (The War On Drugs )
John Osbourne, Chad Smith , Ali Tamposi , Robert Trujillo , Andrew Wotman – "Patient Number 9" (Ozzy Osbourne featuring Jeff Beck )
[ 32]
2024
Julien Baker , Phoebe Bridgers , Lucy Dacus
"Not Strong Enough "
Boygenius
Mick Jagger , Keith Richards , Andrew Watt – "Angry " (The Rolling Stones )
Dan Nigro , Olivia Rodrigo – "Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl " (Olivia Rodrigo )
Dean Fertita , Joshua Homme , Michael Shuman , Jon Theodore , Troy Van Leeuwen – "Emotion Sickness" (Queens of the Stone Age )
Dave Grohl , Rami Jaffee , Nate Mendel , Chris Shiflett , Pat Smear – "Rescued " (Foo Fighters )
[ 33]
^[I] The performing artist is only listed but does not receive the award.
^[II] Showing the name of the songwriter(s), the nominated song and in parentheses the performer's name(s).
Multiple wins
Multiple nominations
10 nominations
8 nominations
7 nominations
6 nominations
5 nominations
4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations
See also
References
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^ "Overview" . National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences . Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved November 11, 2010 .
^ "52nd OEP Category Description Guide" (PDF) . National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 27, 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2010 .
^ "Grammy Blue Book (edition 2021)" (PDF) . Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2020-06-13 .
^ "Nominees announced for Grammy Awards" . TimesDaily . Vol. 123. Florence, Alabama. January 8, 1992. p. 10B. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2010 .
^ "The 35th Grammy Awards Nominations" . Los Angeles Times . January 8, 1993. p. 3. Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2010 .
^ "General Categories" . Los Angeles Times . January 7, 1994. p. 3. Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2010 .
^ "The 37th Grammy Nominations" . Los Angeles Times . January 6, 1995. p. 3. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2010 .
^ "List of Grammy nominees" . CNN . January 4, 1996. Archived from the original on December 7, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2010 .
^ "The Complete List of Nominees" . Los Angeles Times . January 8, 1997. p. 3. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2010 .
^ "List of Grammy award nominations" . CNN. January 6, 1998. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2010 .
^ "1999 Grammy Nominees" . NME . IPC Media . November 27, 1998. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2010 .
^ *"42nd Annual Grammy Awards nominations" . CNN. January 4, 2000. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2010 .
^ Boucher, Geoff (January 4, 2001). "Grammys Cast a Wider Net Than Usual" . Los Angeles Times . p. 5. Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2010 .
^ "Complete list of Grammy nominations" . The Seattle Times . The Seattle Times Company . January 4, 2002. Archived from the original on December 4, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2010 .
^ D'Angelo, Joe (February 23, 2003). "Norah Jones Sweeps Grammys, Boss Wins Three, Avril Shut Out" . MTV News . Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2019 .
^ "Complete list of Grammy nominations" . The Seattle Times . The Seattle Times Company. December 5, 2003. Archived from the original on December 4, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2010 .
^ "Grammy Award nominees in top categories" . USA Today . Gannett Company . February 7, 2005. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2010 .
^ "Complete list of Grammy Award nominations" . USA Today . Gannett Company. December 8, 2006. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2010 .
^ Kaufman, Gil (December 7, 2006). "Mary J. Blige, Chili Peppers Top Grammy Nominations List" . MTV . Archived from the original on April 26, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2010 .
^ "2008 Grammy Award Winners and Nominees" . The New York Times . February 9, 2008. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved November 17, 2010 .
^ "Complete List of Nominees for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards" . E! Online . December 3, 2008. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2010 .
^ Partridge, Kenneth (December 2, 2009). "Nominees for 2010 Grammy Awards Announced -- Full List" . Spinner.com . Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2010 .
^ a b c "Nominees And Winners – GRAMMY.com" . National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2011 .
^ Ward, Kate (February 12, 2012). "Grammys 2012: Winners' list" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2019 .
^ "56th Annual GRAMMY Awards / 2013 / GRAMMY.com" . Archived from the original on 2014-12-30. Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ "57th Grammy Nominees" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2014 .
^ "60th Grammy Nominees" . Grammy.com . Archived from the original on 28 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017 .
^ "Grammy.com, 7 December 2018" . Archived from the original on 7 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018 .
^ "2021 Nominations List" (PDF) . Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2020-11-28 .
^ "2022 GRAMMYs Awards: Complete Nominations List" . GRAMMY.com . 2021-11-23. Archived from the original on 2021-11-25. Retrieved 2021-12-07 .
^ "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List" . GRAMMYs . 2022-11-15. Archived from the original on 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2022-11-15 .
^ "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List | GRAMMY.com" . www.grammy.com . Archived from the original on 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2023-11-12 .
External links
Special awards Ceremonies
(years are of music release; ceremonies are the next year)
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