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A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined Solo Rock Vocal.

7 ceremonies, 2005–2011. 4 different winners. The longest run belongs to Bruce Springsteen, with 2 straight wins.

Who won most recently?
Paul McCartney in 2011 for Helter Skelter.
Who has won the most?
Bruce Springsteen, 4 wins (2005, 2006, 2008, 2010).
  1. Helter SkelterPaul McCartney
  2. Working on a DreamBruce Springsteen
  3. GravityJohn Mayer
  4. Radio NowhereBruce Springsteen
  5. Someday BabyBob Dylan
  6. Devils & DustBruce Springsteen
Years explored
2005–2011
Different winners
4
Category leader
Bruce Springsteen · 4
About this record

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance was first awarded in 2005, so it does not run the full 1959–2025 window.

It was awarded for the last time in 2011.

A solo rock vocal award had also been handed out in scattered years before 1995, under the name Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo.

From 2012 the Grammys awarded Best Rock Performance instead.

It took over from Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.

2005–2011

7 ceremonies

20052011

01 / The reigns

Bruce Springsteen set the longest run.

The timeline turns the 2005–2011 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited label.

  1. 01
    Bruce Springsteen4 wins
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by label; hover for details.
Bruce Springsteen'05–'06×2
Bob Dylan'07
Bruce Springsteen'08
John Mayer'09
Bruce Springsteen'10
Paul McCartney'11

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

Sony leads the recorded label credits with 6 wins, 2005–2011. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

Sony6 wins
Universal1 win
Wins by label
  1. Sony686%
  2. Universal114%

03 / The near misses

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

Counting nominations in this category only, 2005–2011.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    Neil Young
    5 noms
  2. 02
    Beck
    2 noms
  3. 03
    Eric Clapton
    2 noms
  4. 04
    Robert Plant
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Neil Young
    5L · 0W
  2. 02
    Beck
    2L · 0W
  3. 03
    Eric Clapton
    2L · 0W
  4. 04
    John Mayer
    2L · 1W
  5. 05
    Paul McCartney
    2L · 1W
  6. 06
    Robert Plant
    2L · 0W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2005–2011. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerLabel
2011Paul McCartney (Helter Skelter)
beat 4 others
  • Eric Clapton (Run Back to Your Side)
  • John Mayer (Crossroads)
  • Robert Plant (Silver Rider)
  • Neil Young (Angry World)
Mercury
2010Bruce Springsteen (Working on a Dream)
beat 4 others
  • Bob Dylan (Beyond Here Lies Nothin')
  • John Fogerty (Change in the Weather)
  • Prince (Dreamer)
  • Neil Young (Fork in the Road)
Columbia
2009John Mayer (Gravity)
beat 4 others
  • Paul McCartney (I Saw Her Standing There)
  • Bruce Springsteen (Girls in Their Summer Clothes)
  • Eddie Vedder (Rise)
  • Neil Young (No Hidden Path)
Sony BMG/Aware/Columbia
2008Bruce Springsteen (Radio Nowhere)
beat 4 others
  • Beck (Timebomb)
  • Paul McCartney (Only Mama Knows)
  • John Mellencamp (Our Country)
  • Lucinda Williams (Come On)
Columbia
2007Bob Dylan (Someday Baby)
beat 4 others
  • Beck (Nausea)
  • John Mayer (Route 66)
  • Tom Petty (Saving Grace)
  • Neil Young (Lookin' for a Leader)
Columbia
2006Bruce Springsteen (Devils & Dust)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Eric Clapton (Revolution)
  • Robert Plant (Shine It All Around)
  • Rob Thomas (This Is How a Heart Breaks)
  • Neil Young (The Painter)
Columbia
2005Bruce Springsteen (Code of Silence)
beat 4 others
  • Ryan Adams (Wonderwall)
  • Steve Earle (The Revolution Starts Now)
  • Melissa Etheridge (Breathe)
  • Tom Waits (Metropolitan Glide)
Columbia