Hope everyone is having a good week. Watched The Grammy’s last night on my DVR. Got through 3 hours in about 20 minutes in search of rock. I know this is a massive mainstream music show but rock and metal have been badly represented for over 25 years. Ever since they gave Tull a Grammy over Metallica they really are still lost. The nominations are so random and often make no sense at all. Don’t know much about Alabama Shakes and I’m sure they are a fine band, but the clip they played when they won didn’t sound very rock. Ghost won for metal. Of course this wasn’t dare televised! I’m sure they loved their costumes so said “let’s go with that”. If you honestly think they sat and listened to Ghost I have a bridge to sell you. That being the case in my opinion with every winner in this category (Motorhead for a Metallica cover? Priest for a live version of a 40 year old song?). It is just a mess. But they don’t care and have to give them out so they just go with whatever. Or so it seems. The Eagles tribute to Glen Frey was nice, even though Jackson Browne struggled trying to sing that song some. Lady Gaga doing Bowie was rough. Could they maybe have had a ROCK artist tribute a ROCK icon?! And please stop with the “Lady Gaga is a rocker” bit. I know, she goes to metal shows sometimes. But if that was really in her blood she’d be playing it. And she is playing the furthest thing from it! Nice job by Grohl recognizing Lemmy, AND Phil Taylor, but for the love of God can TV producers PLEASE understand there are other rock artists out there that can speak? I like Dave and I am a fan and appreciate what he does for rock. But it is insane how EVERY show runs to him as the token rock guy! Hollywood Vampires certainly came the closest to the spirit of real rock music. Obviously the Grammy’s having Johnny Depp in a band I’m sure would allow him to write his own ticket. Kudos to them for saluting Lemmy with some of the time they had, because it’s probably the only reason it happened. Major fail not including Jimmy Bain in the obits. That’s my take, feel free to post yours in comments.
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Have to say I agree 100%!! I thought Lady GaGa did pretty good with the Bowie tribute, but could’ve tried cramming less songs up there. Enjoyed the Hollywood Vampires performance. Alice would’ve sounded great doing some David Bowie songs I think. You didn’t mention it, but I really enjoyed the B.B. King tribute. Bonnie Raitt, Gary Clark Jr., and Chris Stapleton are all grat players and singers!! I like Dave Grohl to, but I to think they could get some other rockers from time to time.
Spot on Ed …Lady Gaga goes to some metal shows she is pop artist!!
Mike Porcaro, bassist from Toto, also was left out. 6 time Grammy winner. I would say 70% of the crowd had no idea who Lemmy was let alone got Hollywood Vampires.
Hey Eddie, Lady Gaga doing that Bowie tribute is as bad as you wanting to do a Lemmy tribute with Belinda Carlisle.
The Grammy’s haven’t been truly representative of music, ever.
The fact that they have multiple categories for music that sounds similar, Rap, R&B, Pop, like “best Rap record”, “best Rap single”, “best rap performance”, etc… and ONE category that represents metal is abysmal. Wtf is “Urban Contemporary”? Alabama Shakes are a “rock” act? Really? They’re eclectic, I’ll give them that.
Metal is such a broad definition these days, so many sub genres. Is Ghost metal? I love them, but it’s borderline when you have other bands that are so sonically different. It’s one of the best albums of the year, in my opinion, but they didn’t even televise it?
I think Lady Gaga is pretty cool entertainer, but you’re right. Bowie was experimental rock. She’s been pop and art pop. There isn’t one person that could do what Bowie did. Bowie would have never made it in todays music business, and the fact that there are no major artists that can truly hold their own against any of these people that have passed, means that we’re in a long drought of crappy music.
That’s ok. Everyone streaming spotify, paying artists fractions of a penny will fix that, don’t worry.