Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal

The award was first presented at the 22nd Grammy Awards in 1980, recognizing performances from 1979. It honored duos or groups for rock vocal performances, including singles or tracks. The category was part of a broader restructuring that separated rock performance awards by ensemble type and vocal/instrumental nature. Over the years, the eligibility criteria evolved, but the core definition remained: a rock vocal performance by a duo or group, excluding solo artists and instrumental works.

The category was discontinued after the 53rd Grammy Awards in 2011. In 2012, the Recording Academy merged several rock categories—including Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance, and Best Hard Rock Performance—into a single Best Rock Performance award, which now encompasses all rock vocal and instrumental performances by any artist or group.

U2 holds the record for the most wins in this category, with seven victories, including consecutive wins from 2001 to 2002 and 2005 to 2006. The band also received numerous nominations, making them the most recognized act in the category's history. Other multiple winners include the Eagles, Aerosmith, and the Foo Fighters, each with two wins.

The first award went to The Eagles for "Heartache Tonight" in 1980. A notable upset occurred in 1991 when the award went to Aerosmith for "Janie's Got a Gun," beating favorites like Midnight Oil and the B-52's. The final winner in 2011 was The Black Keys for "Tighten Up," marking a shift toward indie rock in the category's later years.

Several acts received multiple nominations without winning, including R.E.M., who were nominated five times but never won in this category, and Pearl Jam, who were nominated four times. The Rolling Stones, despite their iconic status, won only once (in 1995 for "Love Is Strong") despite numerous nominations.

In 1992, the award went to R.E.M. for "Losing My Religion," a song that blended rock with folk and was a commercial hit. The category often recognized mainstream rock acts, but occasionally honored more alternative or experimental groups, such as Radiohead for "Creep" in 1994, which was a surprise win over more established acts.

In 1988, the award was presented to U2 for "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," a song that blended rock with gospel influences. The category also recognized live recordings, such as the 1997 win for Dave Matthews Band for "So Much to Say," which was from their live album.

One notable quirk: in 2003, the award was given to the Foo Fighters for "All My Life," but the band was not present to accept, and the presenter mistakenly read the wrong name initially. Additionally, the category was sometimes criticized for favoring commercial rock over more critically acclaimed acts, leading to debates about the Grammy voting process.

The category's discontinuation was part of a larger effort by the Recording Academy to streamline the Grammy Awards and reduce the number of categories. The consolidation was met with mixed reactions, with some praising the simplification and others lamenting the loss of specific recognition for duo/group rock performances.

Despite its end, the category's winners reflect the evolution of rock music over three decades, from classic rock and arena rock to alternative and indie rock. The award's history is preserved in the Grammy archives and continues to be referenced in discussions of rock music's most celebrated acts.

Recording Academy

The organization that presents the Grammy Awards.

Best Rock Performance

The current Grammy category that replaced the duo/group vocal category in 2012.

Duo or Group

A musical act consisting of two or more members performing together.