I Prevail’s Eric Vanlerberghe has expressed frustration over how rock music is represented at major award shows. He particularly criticized the choice of performers at recent Grammy ceremonies, as reported by Louder Sound.

The singer reflected on I Prevail’s 2020 Grammy nominations and shared his thoughts on the current state of rock representation at the awards.

“That was big. The Grammys is one of those universal languages where everyone in your life could go ‘Oh, I get it now’, and it was an honor to be nominated alongside bands like Tool, Killswitch Engage, and Death Angel,” Vanlerberghe said.

He went on to describe the experience of attending the ceremony and the hierarchy within the event.

“We weren’t part of the actual televised event. It wasn’t the Grammys that you picture on TV. We stayed for the entire awards, and you see the people sat down the front, and you’re kind of on the outside. It’s still amazing, but there are levels to this sort of thing,” he explained.

Vanlerberghe then addressed his main concern about rock music’s representation at the awards.

“But I’m waiting for the change. You know, Billie Eilish performed, Tyler, the Creator performed, Lil Nas X performed, Demi Lovato performed, all of the artists at the top of their game. Then, when they did the rock artist, it was Aerosmith and Run DMC! That was the greatest way to represent rock in 2025?! You’ve got all these new, young artists selling out arenas in rock and metal… but Aerosmith? I hope that will change soon,” he stated.

Vanlerberghe’s comments reflect the band’s journey from underground success to mainstream recognition. This path has positioned them among the new generation of rock and metal acts demanding greater visibility.

Atom Splitter PR revealed that I Prevail received their two Grammy nominations in 2020 for their album Trauma and the single “Bow Down.” They competed in the Best Rock Album and Best Metal Performance categories. The Michigan-based band had initially gained widespread attention with a metal cover of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” before establishing themselves with original material.

The band has continued to evolve and maintain their presence in the contemporary rock scene. WMMR reported that I Prevail announced their fourth album, Violent Nature, in 2025 following a major lineup change that included the departure of vocalist Brian Burkheiser. The band released a new single, “Annihilate Me,” in April 2025, marking their continued commitment to the genre.

I Prevail is part of a growing wave of contemporary rock and metal bands that are achieving significant commercial success. Louder Sound noted that the band is often compared to other successful acts like Bad Omens and Sleep Token. All of these bands are pushing for greater recognition in mainstream music. These bands have been selling out arenas and playing major festivals, demonstrating the vitality of modern rock and metal.

The comments highlight ongoing discussions about how legacy acts versus contemporary artists are featured at major music industry events. Vanlerberghe is advocating for more representation of the current generation of rock musicians who are actively shaping the genre’s future.