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A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined Rock Instrumental.

32 ceremonies, 1980–2011. 25 different winners. The longest run belongs to The Police, with 2 straight wins.

Who won most recently?
Jeff Beck in 2011 for Hammerhead.
Who has won the most?
Jeff Beck, 6 wins (1986, 1990, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2011).
  1. HammerheadJeff Beck
  2. A Day in the LifeJeff Beck
  3. Peaches en RegaliaZappa Plays Zappa featuring Steve Vai & Napoleon Murphy Brock
  4. Once Upon a Time in the WestBruce Springsteen
  5. The Wizard Turns On...The Flaming Lips
  6. 69 Freedom SpecialLes Paul & Friends
Years explored
1980–2011
Different winners
25
Category leader
Jeff Beck · 6
About this record

Best Rock Instrumental Performance was first awarded in 1980, so it does not run the full 1959–2025 window.

It was awarded for the last time in 2011.

From 2012 the Grammys awarded Best Rock Performance instead.

2000–2011

12 ceremonies

19802011

01 / The reigns

Jeff Beck set the longest run.

The timeline turns the 2000–2011 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited label.

  1. 01
    Jeff Beck4 wins
  2. 02
    The Flaming Lips2 wins
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

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

Sony leads the recorded label credits with 4 wins, 2000–2011. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

Sony4 wins
Warner4 wins
Atco1 win
Eagle1 win
Razor & Tie1 win
Universal1 win
Wins by label
  1. Sony433%
  2. Warner433%
  3. Atco18%
  4. Eagle18%
  5. Razor & Tie18%
  6. Universal18%

03 / The near misses

The names that kept coming back without the ending they wanted.

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2011.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    Steve Vai
    7 noms
  2. 02
    Joe Satriani
    5 noms
  3. 03
    Rush
    3 noms
  4. 04
    The Allman Brothers Band
    3 noms
  5. 05
    David Gilmour
    2 noms
  6. 06
    Metallica
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Steve Vai
    7L · 0W
  2. 02
    Joe Satriani
    5L · 0W
  3. 03
    Rush
    3L · 0W
  4. 04
    The Allman Brothers Band
    3L · 0W
  5. 05
    David Gilmour
    2L · 0W
  6. 06
    Metallica
    2L · 0W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2000–2011. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerLabel
2011Jeff 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
2010Jeff 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
2009Zappa 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
2008Bruce 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
2007The 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.
2006Les 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
2005Brian 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
2004Jeff 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
2003The 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.
2002Jeff 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
2001Metallica 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
2000Santana 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