The Recording AcademyAC/DC have been a band for over 40 years, but there’s one thing the classic rockers haven't done during their long, illustrious career: play the Grammys. That will change this Sunday when they take the stage to perform at 57th Annual Grammy Awards.
"I’ve got AC/DC on the show!" exclaims Grammy executive producer, Ken Ehrlich, to ABC News Radio. "They’re not a new, young act, but they’ve never been on a Grammy show. So the idea of having these first-timers is really exciting, and it energizes all of us."
Other performers include a collaboration between Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Beck, plus a duet between rising alternative star Hozier and acclaimed pop singer Annie Lennox, which Ehrlich thinks will be a "show-stopper."
"Obviously we’re gonna do 'Take Me to Church' with Hozier," Ehrlich says. "But Annie, when I called her, I said to her, 'You know I really think 'Take Me to the River' would be amazing.' She did an incredible version of that some years back. And she called me back and said, 'You know, I like that, but is there any possibility of doing 'I Put a Spell On You'?' -- which is from her new album. So they’re gonna do that and I think it’s gonna be a show-stopper."
As for whom he wanted to get on the show but couldn't, Ehrlich says he was close to getting U2, but the plans fell through.
"We had some serious talks with U2 and they were ready to come," he tells ABC News Radio. "Whether it would have been a mash-up or whether it would have just been a solo performance by the band, we were talking. But then that kind of went by the wayside when Bono had his accident."
The U2 frontman injured himself up pretty badly while bike-riding in New York City last November and has said he may never play guitar again, but Ehrlich hears he may be on the mend.
"I'm hearing really good reports about him being much better, but unfortunately not in time for us," he explains.
In addition to the performances, of course, are the actual Grammy awards. Beck's Morning Phase received a nomination for Album of the Year, giving him the lead over all the rock artists with four nominations. The 57th Annual Grammy Awards will air Sunday night on CBS. Here are all the nominees for the rock categories:
Best Rock Album
Ryan Adams, Ryan Adams
Morning Phase, Beck
Turn Blue, The Black Keys
Hypnotic Eye, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Songs of Innocence, U2
Best Rock Song
"Blue Moon," Beck, songwriter Beck Hansen
"Gimme Something Good," Ryan Adams, songwriter Ryan Adams
"Fever," The Black Keys, songwriters Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney, Brian Burton
"Ain't It Fun," Paramore, songwriters Hayley Williams and Taylor York
"Lazaretto," Jack White, songwriter Jack White
Best Rock Performance
"Gimme Something Good," Ryan Adams
"Do I Wanna Know?" Arctic Monkeys
"Blue Moon," Beck
"Fever," The Black Keys
"Lazaretto," Jack White
Best Metal Performance
"Neon Knights," Anthrax
"High Road," Mastodon
"Heartbreaker," Motörhead
"The Negative One," Slipknot
"The Last In Line," Tenacious D
Best Alternative Music Album
This Is All Yours, Alt-J
Reflektor, Arcade Fire
Melophobia, Cage the Elephant
St. Vincent, St. Vincent
Lazaretto, Jack White
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