The 1960s and 1970s were flush with rock bands, with dozens producing hits, commercially successful albums and earning praise and a spot in the history books. With so many beloved acts emerging at one time, there are bound to be some names that are overlooked in some regards, especially when it comes to the Grammys.
While plenty of the biggest and most beloved rock bands from the genre’s experimental heyday have taken home a piece of gold from the Recording Academy, there are examples of pioneering groups and chart-topping artists that are correctly recognized as forefathers of rock who never won a Grammy.
Here are five of the most glaring examples of artists who really should have a Grammy in rock…but who don’t!
Queen
Fronted by the incomparable Freddie Mercury, Queen created anthems like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Will Rock You.” Their absence from the Grammy winners’ circle remains a glaring omission, given their exceptional songwriting and Mercury’s unforgettable stage presence. The band was nominated several times, including for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for their smash “Another One Bites The Dust,” while “Bohemian Rhapsody” picked up a pair of nods.
The Doors
The Doors, led by the enigmatic Jim Morrison, are renowned for their poetic lyrics. Despite their lyrical genius and ability to push musical boundaries, The Doors were not Grammy recipients during their prime. The band’s documentary When You’re Strange won the Best Long Form Music Video Grammy, but that only went to the director and producers, not the band themselves.
An album credited to Morrison, An American Prayer, was once in the running for Best Spoken Word, Documentary Or Drama Recording, but it didn’t earn the trophy.
The Who
British rock legends The Who played a pivotal role in rock music’s evolution. Despite their remarkable career and numerous anthems that have stood the test of time, they never won a Grammy. The group was nominated twice in the Best Long Form Music Video category (which changed names in between their nods), for both Live – Featuring The Rock Opera “Tommy” and then Amazing Journey: The Story Of The Who, but they were beaten both times.
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys’ harmonious sound defined the 1960s music landscape. They quickly became one of the most commercially successful, and then critically acclaimed, groups in the music industry. Despite forever changing how music was made and elevating pop, the full band still doesn’t own a Grammy Award.
At the ninth ceremony, The Beach Boys earned a trio of nominations, all for “Good Vibrations.” They returned many years later to collect their fourth, and so far last, nod for “Kokomo,” but they didn’t end up winning.
Brian Wilson, the frontman, has won a pair of Grammys, including one for a Beach Boys title—The Smile Sessions (Deluxe Box Set) claimed Best Historical Album—but the group as a whole was never honored.
Rush
Of all the rock bands on this list, Rush has earned the most nominations…which makes the fact that they never walked away with a Grammy in hand that much more depressing. The Canadian progressive rock legends, known for their complex musical compositions, were nominated seven times, but they never came out on top.
The group has been nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance an incredible six times, making them one of the most-nominated acts of all time in the now-defunct category. They were also once up for Music Video/Long Form, but again, no luck.
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