The Black Keys | |
|---|---|
 The Black Keys performing atSouth by Southwest in 2010. From left to right:Dan Auerbach andPatrick Carney. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Akron, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Labels |
|
| Members | |
| Website | theblackkeys |
The Black Keys are an Americanrock duo formed inAkron, Ohio, in 2001. The group consists ofDan Auerbach (guitar,vocals) andPatrick Carney (drums). The duo began as anindependent act, recording music in basements and self-producing their records, before they eventually emerged as one of the most populargarage rock artists during asecond wave of the genre's revival in the2000s. The band's rawblues rock sound draws heavily from Auerbach'sblues influences, includingJunior Kimbrough,R.L. Burnside,Howlin' Wolf, andRobert Johnson.
Friends since childhood, Auerbach and Carney formed the group after dropping out of college. After signing with the independent record labelAlive, they released their debut album,The Big Come Up, in 2002, which earned them a new deal withFat Possum Records. Over the next decade, the Black Keys built an underground fanbase through extensive touring of small clubs, frequent album releases and music festival appearances, and broadlicensing of their songs. Their third album,Rubber Factory (2004), received critical acclaim and boosted the band's profile, eventually leading to a record deal with the major labelNonesuch Records in 2006. After self-producing and recording their first four records in makeshift studios, the duo recordedAttack & Release (2008) in a professional studio and hired producerDanger Mouse, who subsequently became a frequent collaborator of the group.
The group's commercial breakthrough came in 2010 with the albumBrothers, which along with its popular single "Tighten Up", won threeGrammy Awards. Their 2011 follow-upEl Camino received critical acclaim and peaked at number two on theBillboard 200 chart, leading to the first arena concert tour of the band's career, theEl Camino Tour. The album and its hit single "Lonely Boy" won another three Grammy Awards. In 2014, they released their eighth album,Turn Blue, their first number-one record in the US, Canada, and Australia. After completing the Turn Blue Tour in 2015, the duo took a hiatus for several years to work on side projects and produce other artists.
The duo returned in 2019 with their ninth album,Let's Rock. In 2021, they releasedDelta Kream, a tribute to Mississippihill country blues. Returning to original songwriting,Dropout Boogie was released in 2022. In 2024, they releasedOhio Players, following that they releasedNo Rain, No Flowers on August 8, 2025.
Guitarist and vocalistDan Auerbach and drummerPatrick Carney first met when they were nine years old and were casual friends while living in the same neighborhood ofAkron, Ohio, a couple houses down from each other.[1] Auerbach and Carney both come from musical backgrounds. Auerbach is the cousin of guitaristRobert Quine, a "veteran of New York'savant-rock scene." Carney is the nephew of saxophonistRalph Carney, who performed on severalTom Waits albums. While attendingFirestone High School, they became friends again,[1] though they were part of different crowds[2]—Auerbach was captain of the high schoolsoccer team, while Carney was a social outcast.[3] Encouraged by their brothers, the duo beganjamming together in 1996, as Auerbach was learning guitar at the time and Carney owned afour-track recorder and a drum set.[4][5] After graduating, both briefly attended theUniversity of Akron before dropping out.[2][6]
Auerbach attempted to make a living from performing at small bars in town, but realized he would not be able to book shows in other cities without ademo. To record one, he asked for help from Carney, who agreed to provide recording equipment and allow his basement to be used if Auerbach recruited the other musicians. However, none of Auerbach's backing band showed up on the recording date.[2] Instead, Carney and Auerbach jammed, eventually leading to the duo forming a band in mid-2001.[2][7] Together, they recorded a six-song demo consisting of "oldblues rip-offs and words made up on the spot" with minimal equipment.[2] After sending the demo to a dozenrecord labels, they accepted an offer in 2002 from a small indie label in Los Angeles namedAlive,[4][8] because it was "the only label that would sign [them] without having to see [them] first".[9]
According to an interview onNPR'sFresh Air, the group's name "the Black Keys" came from an acquaintance diagnosed with schizophrenia, Alfred McMoore. He would leave incoherent messages on their answering machines referring to their fathers as "black keys" such as "D flat" when he was upset with them.[10][11] On March 20, 2002, the duo played their first live show at Cleveland'sBeachland Ballroom and Tavern to an audience of approximately eight people.[8] The band's debut album,The Big Come Up, was recorded entirely in Carney's basement on an8-track tape recorder inlo-fi and was released in May 2002,[12] three months after they signed to Alive.[8] The album, a mix of eight original tracks and five cover songs, forged a rawblues rock sound for the group; the covers included tracks originally by blues musiciansMuddy Waters,Junior Kimbrough, andR. L. Burnside. Two tracks, covers of the traditional blues standard "Leavin' Trunk" andthe Beatles' song "She Said, She Said", were released as asingle on Isota Records. The track "I'll Be Your Man" would later be used as the theme song for theHBO seriesHung. In order to help fund a tour, Auerbach and Carney took jobsmowing lawns for a landlord.[13] Despite modest sales forThe Big Come Up, it gained a cult following and attracted attention from critics, eventually landing the group a record deal withFat Possum Records.[14]
Within days of signing to Fat Possum, the Black Keys completed their second album,Thickfreakness.[5] It was recorded in Carney's basement in a single 14-hour session in December 2002, an approach necessitated because the group spent its smalladvance payment from Fat Possum on rent.[7][9][15] The group had recorded sessions with producer Jeff Saltzman in San Francisco but ultimately aborted them, as they were unhappy that the results sounded too much like "modern-rock radio".[7] In March 2003, the group played at one of its first music festivals,South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, after driving for nearly 24 hours from Akron.[16] Much as they did for the festival, Carney and Auerbach spent their early tour days driving themselves from show to show in a 1994Chrysler van they nicknamed the "Gray Ghost".[17]
Thickfreakness was released on April 8, 2003, and received positive reviews from critics. The record spawned three singles: "Set You Free", "Hard Row", and a cover ofRichard Berry's "Have Love, Will Travel". The other cover from the album was Junior Kimbrough's "Everywhere I Go".Time later namedThickfreakness the third-best album of 2003.[18] That year, the duo received a lucrative offer of £200,000 tolicense one of their songs for use in an English mayonnaise advertisement. At the suggestion of theirmanager, they rejected the offer for fear of being perceived as "sell-outs" and alienating their fan base.[10][19][20] The band toured extensively throughout 2003, playing its first dates outside of the United States and opening concerts forSleater-Kinney,Beck, andDashboard Confessional.[21][22] However, exhaustion had set in by the end of the year, forcing the band to cancel European tour dates.[21] In August, the group made its national television debut onLate Night with Conan O'Brien and performed at theReading and Leeds Festivals.[22][23] As fellow garage bandthe White Stripes grew in popularity, the Black Keys drew comparisons to them—sometimes as a derivative act—since both groups had two-piece lineups, Midwest origins, bluesy sounds, and names with colors.[3][24] In September, the Black Keys released a split-EP withthe Six Parts Seven titledThe Six Parts Seven/The Black Keys EP, featuring one song by the Six Parts Seven and three songs by the Black Keys.
The Black Keys released an EP titledThe Moan on January 19, 2004, featuring "Have Love Will Travel", an alternate version of "Heavy Soul", and two covers. The group found itself struggling to sell records or gain airplay of their songs on the radio, and they were not making much money either; they had to absorb a $3,000 loss from a European tour.[3] Frustrated with their lack of success, the band relented and decided to begin licensing their music, beginning with the song "Set You Free" in aNissan automobile commercial.[4] It was the first of an eventual 300-plus song placements in television shows, films, TV commercials, and video games.[20] The group played several high-profile musical festivals in the first half of 2004, includingCoachella[25] andBonnaroo.[26]
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For their third album,Rubber Factory, the band was forced to find a new recording location, as the building that housed their basement studio was sold by its landlord. They created a makeshift studio in a formertire-manufacturing factory in Akron,[21] and recorded from January to May 2004.[27] The album was released on September 7, 2004, and became the group's first record to chart on the USBillboard 200, reaching number 143.[28]Rubber Factory received critical acclaim and was named one of the year's best albums byEntertainment Weekly andThe New Yorker.[29] Two singles were released, "10 A.M. Automatic" and the double A-side "'Till I Get My Way/Girl Is on My Mind". ComedianDavid Cross directed the music video for "10 A.M. Automatic".[30] The duo promoted the album with tours in North America, Europe, and Australia.[31] In 2005, the band released their first live video album,Live, recorded atThe Metro Theatre in Sydney, Australia on March 18, 2005. In July, they played at theLollapalooza music festival.[32]
On May 2, 2006, the Black Keys releasedChulahoma: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough, a 6-track album of cover versions of songs by Junior Kimbrough. It was the band's final release with the independent label Fat Possum. Having fulfilled their two-album contract, the band signed with the major labelNonesuch Records.[33] Later in May, the group released its second live album,Live in Austin, TX—also known asThickfreakness in Austin—which was recorded in 2003. The group's music appeared in several television commercials over the course of the year; among the companies to license its music wereSony, Nissan, andVictoria's Secret, which used "The Desperate Man" in a lingerie commercial featuringHeidi Klum.[34] Despite having the resources of a major record label available to them, the group elected to return to recording in Carney's basement for its fourth studio album,Magic Potion.[33] Released on September 12, 2006, the album was the group's first release on Nonesuch,[35] as well as its first album to comprise all original songs. Three singles were issued: "You're the One", "Your Touch", and "Just Got to Be". In support ofMagic Potion, the band embarked on its largest tour to that point, performing in large theaters and 1,000-seat venues.[36] The Black Keys recorded covers of "The Wicked Messenger" for thesoundtrack of the filmI'm Not There and "If You Ever Slip" forThe Hottest State soundtrack.
In 2007, producerDanger Mouse began working on a record forIke Turner and asked the Black Keys to write a few songs for the project. The collaboration ultimately fell through, and Turner later died in December 2007. The duo decided to turn the material they had written into their fifth studio album,Attack & Release, and they asked Danger Mouse to produce the record.[37] The sessions saw the band transitioning away from their "homemade" ethos to record-making; not only was it the first time that the band completed an album in a professional studio,[38] but it was also the first time they hired an outside producer to work on a record.[39] Danger Mouse supplemented the band's sound with instrumental flourishes and more polished production values.[40] Released on April 1, 2008,Attack & Release debuted at number 14 on theBillboard 200.[14] Four singles were released: "Strange Times", "I Got Mine", "Oceans and Streams", and "Same Old Thing". "Strange Times" was featured in the video gamesGrand Theft Auto IV andNASCAR 09. "I Got Mine" is used as the theme song for Canadian police drama TV seriesThe Bridge. The song was ranked number 23 onRolling Stone's list of The 100 Best Singles of 2008.[41]
On October 17, 2008, the Black Keys was an opening act for fellow Akron-area bandDevo at a special benefit concert at theAkron Civic Theatre for presidential candidateBarack Obama.Chrissie Hynde of thePretenders, also an Akron native and Firestone High School graduate, followed their set.[42] In November, they toured through Europe together withLiam Finn. That month, the group released the concert videoLive at the Crystal Ballroom, which was filmed on April 4, 2008, at the group's show atCrystal Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. The video was produced byLance Bangs.[43]
Tensions grew within the band in 2009. Prior to Carney's divorce from his wife Denise Grollmus, Auerbach found it increasingly difficult to communicate with the drummer due to his antipathy for Grollmus. Auerbach said, "I really hated her from the start and didn't want anything to do with her."[3] In February, Auerbach released his debut solo album,Keep It Hid. Carney, who claimed Auerbach did not tell him about the side project, felt betrayed.[19] Carney subsequently formed the indie bandDrummer, with whom he played bass guitar.[44] The group released its debut albumFeel Good Together on September 29, 2009.
The Black Keys reconciled later in the year. On June 6, 2009, they performed along withthe Roots,TV on the Radio,Public Enemy,Antibalas, and other acts at the 2nd Annual Roots Picnic on the Festival Pier inPhiladelphia.[45] They also joined the 9th annual Independent Music Awards judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.[46][47]
Blakroc, a collaborative album featuring the Black Keys and severalhip hop artists, was released in 2009 onBlack Friday. The project was supported and brought together byDamon Dash, who is a big fan of the band. The album features rappersMos Def,Ludacris,RZA,Raekwon,Pharoahe Monch,Q-Tip,NOE,Jim Jones,Nicole Wray,M.O.P., and the lateOl' Dirty Bastard. The album was recorded inBrooklyn, New York by co-producer, engineer and mixerJoel Hamilton at Studio G. Auerbach said on the official Blakroc site, "Pat and I have been preparing for this record since we were 16."[48]
Auerbach and Carney moved toNashville in 2010, where they established a studio downtown.[49]
The group's sixth studio album,Brothers, was released on May 18, 2010.[50] Recorded primarily atMuscle Shoals Sound Studio, the album was produced by the Black Keys and Mark Neill,[51] and was mixed byTchad Blake.[52] The song "Tighten Up", the only track from the album produced by Danger Mouse, preceded the album as the lead single. The song became their most successful single to that point, spending 10 weeks at number one on theAlternative Songs chart and becoming the group's first single on theBillboard Hot 100, peaking at number 87.[53] The song also reached gold certification status.[54] The music video for "Tighten Up", directed byChris Marrs Piliero,[55] won the 2010MTV Video Music Award for Breakthrough Video.[56]Brothers sold over 73,000 copies in the US in its first week and peaked at number three on theBillboard 200, their best performance on the chart to that point.[57] In total, the record sold 1.5 million copies worldwide,[58] including 870,000 copies in the US,[59] and it was certified double-platinum in Canada, platinum in the US, and gold in the UK.[54] The Black Keys were among several artist judges at the 9th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.[60]
The band continued to gain exposure through continued song licensing, so much so that they wereWarner Bros. Records' most-licensed band of the year.[61]Rolling Stone placedBrothers at number two on its list of the best albums of 2010 and "Everlasting Light" at number 11 on the list of the year's best songs.[62][63]Spin named the Black Keys the "Artist of the Year" for 2010.[64] On January 8, 2011, the band appeared as the musical guest on American television sketch comedy showSaturday Night Live.[65] At the53rd Grammy Awards,Brothers and its songs won awards in three of the five categories they were nominated in; the band received honors forBest Alternative Music Album (forBrothers) andBest Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (for "Tighten Up"), whileMichael Carney, the band's creative director and Patrick's brother, wonBest Recording Package for designing the album's artwork.[66][67]
The band's sudden success proved overwhelming, as they found themselves booking additional promotional commitments and facing demand for additional touring dates.[58] In January 2011, the group canceled concerts in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, citing exhaustion, thus clearing out most of their touring schedule into April.[68] Patrick Carney said, "We've been touring long enough to know when we're about to hit our breaking point." The desire to record another album soon afterBrothers also led to the decision. Carney said, "We could have waited another year or so, and milked theBrothers album and kept touring, but we like bands, and our favourite bands growing up and even today, are bands that put out a lot of music and every album is different from the last."[58]
Brothers' second single, "Howlin' for You", was a successful follow-up, achieving a gold certification in the US.[54] The music video, directed by Chris Marrs Piliero,[69] parodied action movie trailers and starredTricia Helfer,Diora Baird,Sean Patrick Flanery,Christian Serratos,Corbin Bernsen,Todd Bridges, andShaun White.[70][71] It was nominated for the 2011MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video.[72] In 2014, the band donated the song rights toPETA for an animal adoption ad campaign.[73]
The Black Keys were nominated for threeBillboard Music Awards: Top Alternative Artist, and Top Rock Album and Top Alternative Album forBrothers.[74] The group continued to make appearances at American music festivals throughout the year, playing at Bonnaroo,Kanrocksas, andOutside Lands.
The group recorded their seventh studio album,El Camino, from March to May 2011.[59] Splitting time between touring and recording, the band spent 41 days at Easy Eye Sound Studio, which was opened in 2010 by Auerbach in the duo's new hometown ofNashville, Tennessee.[2] For the album, Danger Mouse reprised his role as producer and also contributed as a co-writer on all 11 songs.[59] After struggling to translate the slower songs fromBrothers to a live setting, the band decided to write more uptempo tracks forEl Camino.[58] The record draws from popular genres from the 1950s–1970s,[75] includingrock and roll,[75][76]glam rock,[77]rockabilly,[77]surf rock,[77] andsoul.[78] The band cited several retro acts as musical influences on the album, includingthe Clash,the Cramps,T. Rex,Ramones,the Beatles,the Sweet,the Cars, andJohnny Burnette.[2][58][59]
"Lonely Boy" was released in October as the album's lead single, accompanied by a popularone-shot music video of a man dancing and lip-syncing. The song became the group's best-charting single in several countries, reaching number 64 on theBillboard Hot 100,[53] number 2 on theAustralian Singles Chart,[79] and number 33 on theCanadian Hot 100.[80] The song was certified nine-times platinum in Canada, triple platinum in Australia, platinum in New Zealand, and gold in Denmark.[54] The band returned toSaturday Night Live as a musical guest on December 3, 2011.[81]El Camino was released three days later and received wide critical acclaim.[82] In the US, it debuted at number two on theBillboard 200 and sold 206,000 copies in its first week, the highest single-week sales and (to that point) charting position the group had achieved in the country.[83] Many publications, such asRolling Stone andTime rankedEl Camino among the best albums of the year, despite its late release.[84][85] The album was certified double-platinum in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand; platinum in the US, UK, and Ireland; and gold in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France.[54]
In 2012, the group commenced the first headlining arena tour of its career,[86] theEl Camino Tour, playing dates in Europe and North America.[87][88] After tickets went on sale, their show atMadison Square Garden sold out in 15 minutes.[89] Just as it did on its previous tour, the group added bassist Gus Seyffert and keyboardist/guitarist John Wood as touring musicians in order to perform songs as close to their studio arrangements as possible.[3][90] The album's second single, "Gold on the Ceiling", like its predecessor, went to number one on the Alternative Songs chart[91] and was certified platinum in Australia and Canada.[54] The group headlined several music festivals throughout the year, includingCatalpa Music Festival,[92]Coachella,[93]Memphis in May (in 2013),[94]Lollapalooza,[95] andOsheaga.[96] At the2013 Grammy Awards,El Camino and "Lonely Boy" were nominated in five categories and were winners in three; the album wonBest Rock Album, while "Lonely Boy" wonBest Rock Performance andBest Rock Song.[97]
For their eighth studio album,Turn Blue, the band once again collaborated with Danger Mouse, who co-produced and co-wrote the album. It was recorded primarily atSunset Sound in Hollywood, California, from July–August 2013, with additional recording atKey Club inBenton Harbor, Michigan, and Nashville's Easy Eye Sound in early 2014. The album was announced in March 2014 viaMike Tyson'sTwitter account, with a link to a cryptic teaser video onYouTube featuring a hypnotist,[98] and was released on May 13, 2014. The record exhibitspsychedelic rock and soul influences and features a more melancholy tone, largely in part due to Auerbach dealing with the divorce from his wife during the album sessions.[99] The first single, "Fever" was released on March 24,[100] while a second single, "Turn Blue", followed on April 14.[101] The album debuted at number one in the US and Australia, the band's first record to top the album charts in either country;[102][103] 164,000 copies were sold in the US in its first week.[102] The album was nominated for theGrammy Award for Best Rock Album, with "Fever" being nominated for theGrammy Award for Best Rock Song as well as theGrammy Award for Best Rock Performance.[104] In May 2014, the Black Keys embarked on a world tour to support the album, withCage the Elephant,Jake Bugg, andSt. Vincent all separately opening for them. Several shows on the tour were cancelled after Carney broke and dislocated his shoulder in a swimming accident while vacationing inSaint Barthélemy in January 2015.[105]
After concluding their tour with a performance atOutside Lands Music and Arts Festival in August 2015, the Black Keys began an extended hiatus.[106] Shortly after they began their hiatus, the band were ranked No. 20 onRolling Stone's list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.[107] During the band's hiatus, Auerbach and Carney were involved in several musical projects on their own. Auerbach formedthe Arcs in 2015, who released their debut album,Yours, Dreamily, that September. He also released his second solo album,Waiting on a Song, in 2017, and contributed to albums by artists such asthe Pretenders,A$AP Rocky andJake Bugg. Meanwhile, Carney worked as a producer on albums byTobias Jesso, Jr. andKaren Elson, and he composed the theme song to theNetflix animated seriesBoJack Horseman with his late uncleRalph Carney.[108] In 2017, Carney served as a co-writer, producer, and drummer onHopeless Romantic, the first studio album byMichelle Branch in 14 years.[109] After beginning a relationship while working on the album, the two were engaged in July 2017[110] and married in April 2019.
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On March 7, 2019, the Black Keys released the single "Lo/Hi", their first new music released in five years.[111] A week later, the band announced a North American tour co-headlining withModest Mouse and openers*repeat repeat. On April 25, the Black Keys released "Eagle Birds", the second single from their ninth album,Let's Rock.[112] "Lo/Hi" became the band's first single to reach number one on theBillboardMainstream Rock chart.[113] On May 16, the band releasedLet's Rock's third single, "Go".
On April 13, 2021, the Black Keys announced an album comprising 11 covers ofhill country blues songs titledDelta Kream, which was released on May 14, 2021. It is their second release of hill country blues covers following theChulahoma EP in 2006. The announcement was made through the band's Lonely Boys and Girls fan club, through which they also premiered the album's opening track, a cover ofJohn Lee Hooker's version of "Crawling Kingsnake".[114]
On March 10, 2022, the group released the song "Wild Child", their first original music sinceLet's Rock, along with a music video. This coincided with the announcement of their eleventh album,Dropout Boogie, which was released on May 13, 2022.[115] A second single, "It Ain't Over", was released on April 27, 2022.[116]
On August 11, 2023, the Black Keys released the song "No Lovin'", their contribution to the compilation albumTell Everybody! (21st Century Juke Joint Blues From Easy Eye Sound).
On January 12, 2024, the band released the single "Beautiful People (Stay High)",[117] taken from their twelfth studio albumOhio Players. The album was released on April 5, 2024, on streaming services, as well as vinyl, CD and cassette. The album was well received with one review saying the Black Keys have 'found that creative musical joy again'[118]
In March 2024, the band appeared atSXSW 2024, participating in an onstage interview during a keynote event.[119] The documentary filmThis Is a Film About the Black Keys, directed by Jeff Dupre, debuted as part of the film festival.[120][121][122] They also performed at SXSW on March 14 and 15.[123][124] A North America arena tour titled theInternational Players Tour was announced in April 2024, but was suddenly canceled in May.[125] The band would announce later the tour would be rescheduled for smaller venues.[126] In June 2024, the band split from their managers Irving Azoff and Steve Moir.[127] Media speculation questioned if the tour changes and management departure was due to poor ticket sales, which Carney eventually responded to on social media stating "We got fucked. I'll let you all know how so it doesn't happen to you. Stay tuned."[128]
In late 2024, the band released the singles "Mi Tormenta" featuringDannyLux and "Stay in Your Grave" featuringAlice Cooper in advance of the deluxe "Trophy Edition" ofOhio Players.[129] The band was announced for a show on the "2024 America Loves Crypto Tour" at the Akron Civic Center. The booking was criticized by lifestyle magazineGQ due to the tour's relationship topolitical action committees financingcryptocurrency friendly politicians in the 2024 US elections.[130] In a later interview withRolling Stone the band would explain the details of their 2024 tour cancelation due to poor sales, and justified the crypto show as a way to make some income to compensate the staff who were working on the canceled 2024 tour.[131] The band criticizedLive Nation Entertainment for monopolistic actions against musicians, and stated a belief the 2024 touring environment was becoming hostile to artists.[131]
During the cancellation of the 2024 tour, the band returned to studio to record the albumNo Rain, No Flowers, which was released on August 8, 2025, via Easy Eye Sound andWarner Records.[132][131] An accompanying tour forNo Rain, No Flowers was also announced, and on February 7, they released the album's first single, "The Night Before".[133] A second single, "Babygirl", followed on March 21.[134] The third single, the title track, was released on May 16.[132]
The Black Keys have been described asblues rock,[135][136][137][138]garage rock,[136][139][140][141]punk blues,[139][142][143]indie rock,[144][145]lo-fi,[139] andalternative rock.[135] According toPaste, "they've bounced from theblues topsychedelia to classic, good ol' fashionedrock 'n' roll, and so many of their most interesting tunes bring all those elements together".[141]
Current touring musicians
| Former touring musicians
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Timeline
Studio albums
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | The Black Keys | Favorite Alternative Artist | Nominated | [148] |
| 2012 | Nominated | [149] |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | The Black Keys | Best International Artist | Nominated | [150] |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | The Black Keys | Top Alternative Artist | Nominated | [151] |
| Brothers | Top Alternative Album | Nominated | ||
| Top Rock Album | Nominated | |||
| 2012 | The Black Keys | Top Alternative Artist | Nominated | [152] |
| Top Rock Artist | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Black Keys | International Group | Won | [153] |
| 2015 | Nominated | [154] |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "Tighten Up" | Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | Won | [155] |
| Best Rock Song | Nominated | |||
| "Black Mud" | Best Rock Instrumental Performance | Nominated | ||
| Brothers | Best Alternative Music Album | Won | ||
| 2012 | "Dearest" | Best Pop Duo/Group Performance | Nominated | |
| 2013 | "Lonely Boy" | Record of the Year | Nominated | |
| Best Rock Performance | Won | |||
| Best Rock Song | Won | |||
| El Camino | Album of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Best Rock Album | Won | |||
| 2015 | "Fever" | Best Rock Performance | Nominated | |
| Best Rock Song | Nominated | |||
| Turn Blue | Best Rock Album | Nominated | ||
| 2022 | Delta Kream | Best Contemporary Blues Album | Nominated | |
| 2023 | "Wild Child" | Best Rock Performance | Nominated | |
| Dropout Boogie | Best Rock Album | Nominated | ||
| 2025 | "Beautiful People (Stay High)" | Best Rock Performance | Nominated | |
| "Beautiful People (Stay High)" | Best Rock Song | Nominated |
Note: At the53rd Annual Grammy Awards (2011),Michael Carney was nominated and won the award forBest Recording Package, forBrothers.[156] At the55th Annual Grammy Awards (2013),Dan Auerbach was nominated and won the award forProducer of the Year, Non-Classical, for work including the band'sEl Camino.[157] Auerbach has received three further nominations for the award in 2020, 2021 and 2023, which included work on music by The Black Keys on all occasions.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "Fever" | Alternative Rock Song of the Year | Nominated | [158] |
| 2020 | "Lo/Hi" | Rock Song of the Year | Nominated | [159] |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Tighten Up" | Breakthrough Video | Won | [160] |
| 2011 | "Howlin' for You" | Best Rock Video | Nominated | [161] |
| 2012 | "Lonely Boy" | Best Rock Video | Nominated | [162] |
| 2014 | "Fever" | Best Rock Video | Nominated | [163] |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | El Camino | Best Album | Nominated | [164] |
| 2014 | Turn Blue | Best Album | Nominated | [165] |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "Howlin' for You" | Best Indie/Alternative Video | Nominated | [166] |
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Data from Wikidata
| Preceded by | Saturday Night Livemusical guest January 8, 2011 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Saturday Night Live musical guest December 3, 2011 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Saturday Night Live musical guest May 10, 2014 | Succeeded by |