Every Grammys Best Rock Instrumental Performance winner

12 ceremonies, 2000–2011. 8 different winners. The longest run was Jeff Beck, 2 years straight (2010–2011).

It was awarded for the last time in 2011.

From 2012 the Grammys awarded Best Rock Performance instead.

Jeff Beck ×4The Flaming Lips ×2

Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by label; hover for details.

Santana featuring Eric Clapton'00

Metallica with the San Francisco Symphony'01

Jeff Beck'02

The Flaming Lips'03

Jeff Beck'04

Brian Wilson'05

Les Paul & Friends'06

The Flaming Lips'07

Bruce Springsteen'08

Zappa Plays Zappa featuring Steve Vai & Napoleon Murphy Brock'09

Jeff Beck'10–'11×2

Wins by label

Sony433%
Warner433%
Atco18%
Eagle18%
Razor & Tie18%
Universal18%

Who kept losing

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2011.

Most nominated, never won

Steve Vai7 noms
Joe Satriani5 noms
Rush3 noms
The Allman Brothers Band3 noms
David Gilmour2 noms
Metallica2 noms

Most losses

Steve Vai7L · 0W
Joe Satriani5L · 0W
Rush3L · 0W
The Allman Brothers Band3L · 0W
David Gilmour2L · 0W
Metallica2L · 0W

The full list

Year	Winner	Label
2011	Jeff Beck (Hammerhead)repeat beat 4 others The Black Keys (Black Mud) Los Lobos (Do the Murray) Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds (Kundalini Bonfire) Dweezil Zappa (The Deathless Horsie)	Atco
2010	Jeff Beck (A Day in the Life) beat 4 others Booker T. Jones (Warped Sister) Brad Paisley (Playing with Fire) The Brian Setzer Orchestra (Mr. Surfer Goes Jazzin') Steve Vai (Now We Run)	Eagle
2009	Zappa Plays Zappa featuring Steve Vai & Napoleon Murphy Brock (Peaches en Regalia) beat 4 others David Gilmour (Castellorizon) Metallica (Suicide & Redemption) Nine Inch Nails (34 Ghosts I–IV) Rush (Hope (Live for The Art of Peace))	Razor & Tie
2008	Bruce Springsteen (Once Upon a Time in the West) beat 4 others Metallica (The Ecstasy of Gold) Rush (Malignant Narcissism) Joe Satriani (Always with Me, Always with You) Steve Vai (The Attitude Song)	Sony
2007	The Flaming Lips (The Wizard Turns On...) beat 4 others Arctic Monkeys (Chun-Li's Spinning Bird Kick) Peter Frampton (Black Hole Sun) David Gilmour (Castellorizon) Joe Satriani (Super Colossal)	Warner Bros.
2006	Les Paul & Friends (69 Freedom Special) beat 4 others Adrian Belew (Beat Box Guitar) Stewart Copeland (Birds of Prey) Joe Perry (Mercy) Steve Vai (Lotus Feet)	Capitol
2005	Brian Wilson (Mrs. O'Leary's Cow) beat 4 others The Allman Brothers Band (Instrumental Illness) Los Lonely Boys (Onda) Rush (O Baterista) Steve Vai (Whispering a Prayer)	Nonesuch
2004	Jeff Beck (Plan B) beat 4 others The Allman Brothers Band (Instrumental Illness) Linkin Park (Session) Robert Randolph & the Family Band (Squeeze) Steve Vai (Essence)	Epic
2003	The Flaming Lips (Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)) beat 4 others Gov't Mule (Sco-Mule) Tony Levin (Apollo) Joe Satriani (Starry Night) Slash (Love Theme from The Godfather)	Warner Bros.
2002	Jeff Beck (Dirty Mind) beat 4 others The Allman Brothers Band (High Falls) Godsmack (Vampires) Joe Satriani (Always with Me, Always with You) Steve Vai (Whispering a Prayer)	Epic
2001	Metallica with the San Francisco Symphony (The Call of Ktulu) beat 4 others Peter Frampton (Off the Hook) Phish (First Tube) Joe Satriani (Until We Say Goodbye) Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band (Electric Lullaby)	Elektra/Vertigo
2000	Santana featuring Eric Clapton (The Calling) beat 4 others Jeff Beck (What Mama Said) Green Day (Espionage) Moby (Bodyrock) Steve Vai (Windows to the Soul)	Arista

More Grammys categories

Song New Artist Pop Album Rap Album Rap/Sung Collab.Rap Solo Rap Duo or Group Female Rap Solo Male Rap Solo Alt Album World Music Album Traditional World Contemporary World Global Music Album Global Performance African Perf.All 152 categories

Call the next Grammys winners before your friends do

You’ve seen the whole history. This award is retired, but the Grammys are not. Put your picks on the record and run a live pool when the show comes back around.

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