The Grammy Awards have often dealt with a reputation of being out of touch. To some, they represent a huge institution that is always years behind the trends. The 1988 Grammys featured several new categories to keep up with the turning tide of music. The category “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental” made its debut that year. Metallica was heavily favored to win with their groundbreaking album …And Justice For All. Metallica was arguably the most popular metal band of the late 80s. However, in a complete upset, the winner went to Jethro Tull. Known for their early 70s song “Aqualung,” Tull was not exactly known as an 80s chart topper. This is one of the most controversial moments in Grammy history.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download