Rock Flashback: Jethro Tull Wins Metallica’s Grammy, 1989

James Hetfield of Metallica is on stage and en fuego, 2011 (Getty Images/Kevin Winter)

When you think of heavy metal music, who do you think of: Jethro Tull or Metallica?

This week in 1989, the first Grammy was given in the category of Best Heavy Metal Performance. The nominees included some superstars of the genre, people not likely to be honored by the Grammys ever before: Metallica (for the classic album … And Justice for All), AC/DC, Iggy Pop, Jane’s Addiction, and Jethro Tull. Tull’s nomination, for the album Crest of a Knave, was considered the longest of longshots — so long, in fact, that the band members didn’t bother attending the show.

The night was set up for a Metallica win. The band was even performing on the Grammy telecast. But when the envelope was opened, the winner was Jethro Tull.  Boos were heard in the theater, and the cluelessness of the voters was widely mocked. It’s now considered one of the top Grammy upsets ever.

The next year, 1990, the Grammys had two categories, one for metal and another for hard rock. Metallica took the metal prize in its first three years and won six times overall. They have also won one hard-rock Grammy. Earlier this month, the hard-rock Grammy went to Foo Fighters for “White Limo.” Beginning with this year, the metal Grammy has been folded into the hard-rock category — which is probably what should have happened to begin with, in 1989.

Here’s Metallica’s 1989 Grammy show performance, which must have been quite an experience for the Bobby McFerrin fans who voted “Don’t Worry Be Happy” Record and Song of the Year that year.

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