The Grammy Award for Best Rock Song is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality songs in the rock music genre. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".
The award, reserved for songwriters, was first presented to English musician Sting in 1992. According to the category description guide for the 52nd Grammy Awards, the award honors new songs (containing both melody and lyrics) or songs "first achieving prominence" during the period of eligibility. Songs containing prominent samples or interpolations are not eligible.
The award goes to the songwriter. If the song contains samples or interpolations of earlier songs, the publisher and the original songwriter(s) can apply for a Winners Certificate.
Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl and Pat Smear hold the record for the most wins, having won four awards each. Springsteen also holds the record for most nominations with nine. Other winners of multiple awards include the other members of Foo Fighters (Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett) with three wins, and Alanis Morissette and the bands Red Hot Chili Peppers and U2, each with two. Award-winning songs have been performed by American artists more than any other nationality, though they have also been performed by musicians or groups originating from Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. There have been four instances in which one artist or group was nominated for two works in the same year: the group Aerosmith was nominated for both "Cryin'" and "Livin' on the Edge" in 1994, Melissa Etheridge received nominations for "Come to My Window" and "I'm the Only One" in 1995, Jakob Dylan of the Wallflowers won for "One Headlight" and was also nominated for "The Difference" in 1998, and U2 was nominated for the songs "Elevation" and "Walk On" in 2002. Chad Smith also received two nominations in 2023, receiving songwriting credits for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ozzy Osbourne songs nominated. Coldplay holds the record for the most nominations without a win, with four.
Recipients
1990s Year Song Songwriter(s) Artist(s) 1992 "The Soul Cages" Sting Sting "Been Caught Stealing" Eric Avery and Perry Farrell Jane's Addiction "Can't Stop This Thing We Started" Bryan Adams and Mutt Lange Bryan Adams "Enter Sandman" Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich Metallica "Learning to Fly" Tom Petty Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "Silent Lucidity" Chris DeGarmo Queensrÿche 1993 "Layla" (Unplugged Version) and Jim Gordon "Digging in the Dirt" Peter Gabriel Peter Gabriel "Human Touch" Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen "Jeremy" Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament Pearl Jam "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Kurt Cobain Nirvana 1994 "Runaway Train" Soul Asylum "Are You Gonna Go My Way" Lenny Kravitz and Craig Ross Lenny Kravitz "Cryin'" Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and Taylor Rhodes Aerosmith "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" Jim Steinman Meat Loaf "Livin' on the Edge" Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and Mark Hudson Aerosmith 1995 "Streets of Philadelphia" "All Apologies" Kurt Cobain Nirvana "Black Hole Sun" Chris Cornell Soundgarden "Come to My Window" Melissa Etheridge Melissa Etheridge "I'm the Only One" 1996 "You Oughta Know" and Glen Ballard "Dignity" Bob Dylan Bob Dylan "Downtown" Neil Young Neil Young "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" Bono U2 "Hurt" Trent Reznor Nine Inch Nails 1997 "Give Me One Reason" "Cry Love" John Hiatt John Hiatt "6th Avenue Heartache" Jakob Dylan The Wallflowers "Stupid Girl" Duke Erikson, Shirley Manson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig Garbage "Too Much" Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard, Dave Matthews, LeRoi Moore and Boyd Tinsley Dave Matthews Band "Wonderwall" Noel Gallagher Oasis 1998 "One Headlight" The Wallflowers "Bitch" Meredith Brooks and Shelly Peiken Meredith Brooks "Crash into Me" Dave Matthews Dave Matthews Band "Criminal" Fiona Apple Fiona Apple "The Difference" Jakob Dylan The Wallflowers 1999 "Uninvited" "Bitter Sweet Symphony" Richard Ashcroft, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards The Verve "Celebrity Skin" Billy Corgan, Eric Erlandson and Courtney Love Hole "Closing Time" Dan Wilson Semisonic "Have a Little Faith in Me" John Hiatt John Hiatt
2000s Year Song Songwriter(s) Artist(s) 2000* "Scar Tissue" Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith Red Hot Chili Peppers "Angels Would Fall" Melissa Etheridge and John Shanks Melissa Etheridge "The Promise" Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen "Room at the Top" Tom Petty Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "Special" Duke Erikson, Shirley Manson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig Garbage 2001 "With Arms Wide Open" and Mark Tremonti Creed "Again" Lenny Kravitz Lenny Kravitz "Bent" Rob Thomas Matchbox Twenty "Californication" Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith Red Hot Chili Peppers "Kryptonite" Brad Arnold, Todd Harrell and Matt Roberts 3 Doors Down 2002 "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" Charlie Colin, Rob Hotchkiss, Pat Monahan, Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood Train "Elevation" Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. U2 "Jaded" Marti Frederiksen and Steven Tyler Aerosmith "Walk On" Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. U2 "Yellow" Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin Coldplay 2003 "The Rising" "All My Life" Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett Foo Fighters "Hero" Chad Kroeger Chad Kroeger featuring Josey Scott "I Stand Alone" Sully Erna Godsmack "When I'm Gone" Brad Arnold, Todd Harrell, Chris Henderson and Matt Roberts 3 Doors Down 2004 "Seven Nation Army" The White Stripes "Bring Me to Life" David Hodges, Amy Lee and Ben Moody Evanescence "Calling All Angels" Charlie Colin, Patrick Monahan, Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood Train "Disorder in the House" Jorge Calderón and Warren Zevon Bruce Springsteen and Warren Zevon "Someday" Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and Ryan Vikedal Nickelback 2005 "Vertigo" Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. U2 "American Idiot" Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool Green Day "Fall to Pieces" Duff, Dave Kushner, Slash, Matt Sorum and Scott Weiland Velvet Revolver "Float On" Isaac Brock, Dann Gallucci, Eric Judy and Benjamin Weikel Modest Mouse "Somebody Told Me" Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. The Killers 2006 "City of Blinding Lights" Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. U2 "Best of You" Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett Foo Fighters "Beverly Hills" Rivers Cuomo Weezer "Devils & Dust" Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen "Speed of Sound" Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin Coldplay 2007 "Dani California" Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith Red Hot Chili Peppers "Chasing Cars" Nathan Connolly, Gary Lightbody, Jonny Quinn and Tom Simpson Snow Patrol "Lookin' for a Leader" Neil Young Neil Young "Someday Baby" Bob Dylan Bob Dylan "When You Were Young" Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. The Killers 2008 "Radio Nowhere" "Come On" Lucinda Williams Lucinda Williams "Icky Thump" Jack White The White Stripes "It's Not Over" Chris Daughtry, Gregg Wattenberg, Mark Wilkerson and Brett Young Daughtry "The Pretender" Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett Foo Fighters 2009 "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" "House of Cards" Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Phil Selway and Thom Yorke Radiohead "I Will Possess Your Heart" Ben Gibbard, Nick Harmer, Jason McGerr and Chris Walla Death Cab for Cutie "Sex on Fire" Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill and Nathan Followill Kings of Leon "Violet Hill" Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin Coldplay
2010s Year Song Songwriter(s) Artist(s) 2010 "Use Somebody" Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill and Nathan Followill Kings of Leon "The Fixer" Matt Cameron, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready and Eddie Vedder Pearl Jam "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. U2 "21 Guns" Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool Green Day "Working on a Dream" Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen 2011 "Angry World" Neil Young "Little Lion Man" Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford and Winston Marshall Mumford & Sons "Radioactive" Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill and Nathan Followill Kings of Leon "Resistance" Matthew Bellamy Muse "Tighten Up" Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney The Black Keys 2012 "Walk" Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear Foo Fighters "The Cave" Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford and Winston Marshall Mumford & Sons "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin Coldplay "Down by the Water" Colin Meloy The Decemberists "Lotus Flower" Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Phil Selway and Thom Yorke Radiohead 2013 "Lonely Boy" Dan Auerbach, Brian Burton and Patrick Carney The Black Keys "Freedom at 21" Jack White Jack White "I Will Wait" Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Winston Marshall and Marcus Mumford Mumford & Sons "Madness" Matthew Bellamy Muse "We Take Care of Our Own" Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen 2014 "Cut Me Some Slack" Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear Paul McCartney and Nirvana "Ain't Messin 'Round" Gary Clark Jr. Gary Clark Jr. "Doom and Gloom" Mick Jagger and Keith Richards The Rolling Stones "God Is Dead?" Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne Black Sabbath "Panic Station" Matthew Bellamy Muse 2015 "Ain't It Fun" Hayley Williams and Taylor York Paramore "Blue Moon" Beck Hansen Beck "Fever" Dan Auerbach, Brian Burton and Patrick Carney The Black Keys "Gimme Something Good" Ryan Adams Ryan Adams "Lazaretto" Jack White Jack White 2016 "Don't Wanna Fight" Zac Cockrell, Heath Fogg, Brittany Howard and Steve Johnson Alabama Shakes "Ex's & Oh's" Dave Bassett and Elle King Elle King "Hold Back the River" Iain Archer and James Bay James Bay "Lydia" Richard Meyer, Ryan Meyer and Johnny Stevens Highly Suspect "What Kind of Man" John Hill, Tom Hull and Florence Welch Florence + the Machine 2017 "Blackstar" David Bowie David Bowie "Burn the Witch" Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Philip Selway and Thom Yorke Radiohead "Hardwired" James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich Metallica "Heathens" Tyler Joseph Twenty One Pilots "My Name Is Human" Richard Meyer, Ryan Meyer and Johnny Stevens Highly Suspect 2018 "Run" Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear Foo Fighters "Atlas, Rise!" James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich Metallica "Blood in the Cut" Kristine Flaherty and Justin Daly K.Flay "Go to War" Ben Anderson, Jonny Hawkins, Will Hoffman, Daniel Oliver, David Pramik and Mark Vollelunga Nothing More "The Stage" Zachary Baker, Brian Haner, Matthew Sanders, Jonathan Seward and Brooks Wackerman Avenged Sevenfold 2019 "Masseduction" Jack Antonoff and Annie Clark St. Vincent "Black Smoke Rising" Jacob Thomas Kiszka, Joshua Michael Kiszka, Samuel Francis Kiszka and Daniel Robert Wagner Greta Van Fleet "Jumpsuit" Tyler Joseph Twenty One Pilots "Mantra" Jordan Fish, Matthew Kean, Lee Malia, Matthew Nicholls and Oliver Sykes Bring Me the Horizon "Rats" Tom Dalgety and A Ghoul Writer Ghost
2020s