Source: Axl Rose of Guns and Roses at the Steel Wheels Pay Per View Concert at Trump Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, December 19, 1989. (Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
The 2025 Grammy Awards take place on Sunday, Feb. 2, marking the 67th annual show in the academy’s history. While Sunday’s event will be a time where several artists add to their trophy case or win for the first time, it’s important to highlight the legendary artists of rock music that have been snubbed by the Grammys.
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Some of these artists dominated their respective eras in rock music, with a ton of hit singles, albums, tours and influenced not only their genres, but impacted pop culture as well. Here’s 25 rock artists that never won a Grammy award:
25 Rock Artists That Never Won a Grammy:
1. The Beach Boys
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Despite being nominated four times, including three times in 1966 for Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys have never won a Grammy award. They did however receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
2. Boston
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Boston by Boston may be one of the greatest debut albums ever, which helped net the band a nomination for Best New Artist. However, they lost to the Starland Vocal Band, and never received another nomination again.
3. Chuck Berry
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The man that revolutionized “rock and roll” never received any love from the academy – until he won the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1984.
4. Creedence Clearwater Revival
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While John Fogerty won a Grammy in 1998, CCR as a group never received much attention during their heyday in the 1960s.
5. Deep Purple
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Smoke On the Water was recognized by the Grammys – 45 years after its release. Otherwise, Deep Purple has never received a nomination.
6. Def Leppard
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Def Leppard, one of the biggest players in the new wave of British heavy metal in the 1980s, has never received a Grammy nomination.
7. The Doors
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The Doors never received a Grammy nomination during their time as a group. They received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, and won a Grammy Award for “Best Long form Music Video” for the film When You’re Strange – but nothing for their music, so we won’t recognize that one.
8. Grateful Dead
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Zero Grammy nominations and zero wins for the Dead. Just a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
9. Guns N’ Roses
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Guns N’ Roses has three nominations with no wins. Surprisingly, Appetite for Destruction did not garner a single nomination. Criminal? I think so.
10. Heart
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Four nominations, and all the Wilson sister and company have received is a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.
11. Iggy Pop
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The Stooges frontman has failed to win despite two nominations. He did receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
12. Jackson Browne
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Jackson Browne has received eight Grammy nominations, spanning from 1977 to 2010. He’s been “running on empty” in the wins category ever since.
13. Janis Joplin
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Janis Joplin has only received posthumous nominations, losing twice in 1971. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.
14. Jimi Hendrix
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Jimi Hendrix didn’t receive a nomination until after his death, for his rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. He did receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992.
15. Journey
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Journey failed to receive any attention from the Grammys until the 1990s, after the group reunited with frontman Steve Perry. They have one nomination to date.
16. The Kinks
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One of the biggest bands on the frontlines of the British Invasion of the 1960s, The Kinks have failed to draw any attention from the academy.
17. Kiss
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Kiss has only received one Grammy nomination – way after their heyday in 1999.
18. Lynyrd Skynyrd
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No Grammy nominations for these southern rock legends.
19. Queen
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With only four nominations to show for, Queen has only managed to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
20. Ramones
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The Ramones only managed to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, with only Tommy Ramone accepting the award as the last living founding member of the group.
21. Rush
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Despite seven Grammy nominations, Rush failed to win a single one during their career.
22. Joe Satriani
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It may be perplexing to find out that after 15 nominations, legendary guitarist Joe Satriani has won zero awards at the Grammys.
23. The Smiths
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No wins for The Smiths during their five-year run.
24. The Who
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The Who received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001, but not much else to show for other than two nominations.
25. ZZ Top
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This legendary Texas-based rock band has received three nominations, but has failed to win a Grammy award.
