In a shock to literally no one, chart-topping prog titans Tool took home the Grammy for “Best Metal Performance” yesterday (January 26th), beating out Killswitch Engage, I Prevail, Candlemass and Death Angel. The award was presented during the event’s pre-telecast ceremony; the main festivities for the 62nd annual Grammy Awards were held later that night at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Tool won for “7empest,” the final proper song on the band’s 2019 smash-hit comeback album Fear Inoculum. Drummer Danny Carey and bassist Justin Chancellor were on band to accept the award.
“Wow! It kind of renews my faith in humankind that there’s long attention spans left out there that can listen to a 12-minute song,” Carey said in his acceptance speech, which you can view below. “I’d like to thank all the Gods, ’cause I don’t think it’s a good time to piss any of them off. My bandmates Justin, Adam and Maynard, who I couldn’t do anything without. And my mom for educating me and over a thousand other people. My lovely mother of my children — about-to-be children, just a child right now. This is for you also, baby.
“As artists, we’re all influenced by the people that come before us, and for me, it’s all about the great drum gods,” he continued. “I do my best to channel them every time I’m working — namely John Bonham, Tony Williams and, recently, my good friend Neil Peart. This is for all of you guys.”
Tool were also nominated for Best Rock Song, for Fear Inoculum’s title track, but lost out to Gary Clark Jr. See the full list of winners and nominees in the metal and rock categories below.
Best Metal Performance:
Tool– “7empest” (winner)
Candlemass – “Astorolus – The Great Octopus” feat. Tony Iommi
Death Angel – “Humanicide”
I Prevail – “Bow Down”
Killswitch Engage – “Unleashed”
Best Rock Performance:
Gary Clark Jr. – “This Land” (winner)
Bones UK – “Pretty Waste”
Brittany Howard – “History Repeats”
Karen O & Danger Mouse – “Woman”
Rival Sons – “Too Bad”
Best Rock Song:
Gary Clark Jr. – “This Land” (winner)
The 1975 – “Give Yourself A Try”
Vampire Weekend – “Harmony Hall”
Brittany Howard – “History Repeats”
Tool – “Fear Inoculum”
Best Rock Album:
Cage the Elephant – Social Cues (winner)
Bring Me the Horizon – amo
The Cranberries – In the End
I Prevail – Trauma
Rival Sons – Feral Roots
