This year’s Grammy Special Merit Awards saw two of music’s most influential names—Prince and The Clash—receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, a distinction reserved for those whose artistic contributions have left an indelible mark on the recording industry.
As the Recording Academy states, the award recognizes artists "who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording." Joining Prince and The Clash in the 2025 honoree class were Frankie Valli, Frankie Beverly, gospel legend Dr. Bobby Jones, blues great Taj Mahal, and pioneering female rapper Roxanne Shante.
For those who had the privilege of working with Prince, his work ethic remains the stuff of legend. Jimmy Jam, himself a key figure in Minneapolis' musical history through his tenure with The Time—a band deeply intertwined with Prince’s orbit—was on hand to reflect on the Purple One’s relentless drive.
"He had the best work ethic of anybody I ever met," Jam remarked (via NME). "What that lesson taught me was that he saw me as better than I saw myself. I want to enlighten other people to their greatness."
Meanwhile, the surviving members of The Clash—Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, and Topper Headon—opted not to appear in person but instead provided a written statement. Their award was accepted by none other than Chuck D of Public Enemy, a band that, like The Clash, infused their music with a sense of urgency and a spirit of defiance.
