Key Takeaways
- The Rolling Stones have been nominated for a Grammy Award for their album 'Foreign Tongues'.
- Grammy voters were slow to recognize the band, with classic albums like 'Sticky Fingers' and 'Exile on Main St.' not being nominated.
- Despite initial neglect, the band has received multiple lifetime achievements and inducted tracks into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
The Rolling Stones are set to receive a Grammy Award for their latest album 'Foreign Tongues', marking a significant milestone in their long-standing career. The band, known as the world's greatest rock and roll act since 1958, has faced initial resistance from Grammy voters.
Grammy nominations for the Stones were notably late; they weren't nominated until the 1979 ceremony for 'Some Girls', despite classics like 'Sticky Fingers' and 'Exile on Main St.' being overlooked. This delay can be attributed to the Grammys' initial focus on pop music, which was more in line with the tastes of the voting members at that time.
The lack of dedicated performance categories for rock until 1980 further hindered the Stones' chances of recognition. The band had to compete under broader pop/rock categories from 1975-79, where the category description explicitly included 'pop, rock and folk'.
It wasn't until 1995 that a specific best rock album category was introduced, with the Stones becoming the first winners of this award. This recognition came fittingly as they had already received multiple lifetime achievements and inducted tracks into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
The band's enduring legacy is evident through their numerous accolades. Seven Rolling Stones recordings have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, including classic singles like 'I Can’t Get No Satisfaction', 'Paint It Black', and 'Honky Tonk Women'. Additionally, four albums—'Beggar’s Banquet', 'Let It Bleed', 'Sticky Fingers', and 'Exile on Main St.'—have also been honoured.
In a statement, Mick Jagger expressed gratitude for the band's long-standing support: 'I’d like to say thank you to all the people that have stuck by this band through thick and thin. And to all the people that took the piss, the joke’s on you.'
The Rolling Stones' journey from initial neglect to Grammy recognition underscores their enduring impact on rock music. Their latest nomination for 'Foreign Tongues' is a testament to their continued relevance in the industry.
While the band has faced resistance and delays in receiving Grammy recognition, their legacy continues to grow with each new accolade.
'I’d like to say thank you to all the people that have stuck by this band through thick and thin. And to all the people that took the piss, the joke’s on you.'
Mick Jagger, Lead Singer of The Rolling Stones
