Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen were among the relatively small group of classic rockers nominated for 2012 Grammy Awards tonight (Nov. 30). None of them were mentioned on the hour-long televised nominations program, which consisted largely of pop and country music performances.

Before we go any further, we should say that, no, Van Halen did NOT show up, as had been rumored. That's probably for the best, they would have stuck out like a sore thumb amidst all the kiddies.

The rocker who earned the biggest nomination was guitarist extraordinaire Jeff Beck, who's got a shot to win the Best Rock Album award for his album 'Rock N' Roll Party Honoring Les Paul.' After that, the next most prestigious honor worth discussing on this particular site is probably Best Blues Album, which features no less than three members of the Allman Brothers Band competing with their various solo projects.

Then, we get into the categories that most likely won't be presented on the live Grammy Awards show, which take place Feb. 12, 2012 on CBS. McCartney is up for 'Best Historical Record' (who else feels older?) for the deluxe re-issue of his 'Band on the Run' album, and Springsteen, Sting and a Wingless Angels record executive produced by Keith Richards all got nods in the best boxed set or limited edition packaging category.

For a complete list of the 2012 Grammy Award categories and nominees, you can visit the organization's official site. Here are the categories that feature classic rock nominees:

Best Rock Album:
'Rock 'N' Roll Party Honoring Les Paul' — Jeff Beck
'Wasting Light' — Foo Fighters
'Come Around Sundown' — Kings Of Leon
'I'm With You' — Red Hot Chili Peppers
'The Whole Love' — Wilco

Best Blues Album:
Low Country Blues — Gregg Allman
Roadside Attractions — Marcia Ball
Man In Motion — Warren Haynes
The Reflection — Keb' Mo'
Revelator — Tedeschi Trucks Band

Best Americana Album:
Emotional Jukebox — Linda Chorney
Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down — Ry Cooder
Hard Bargain — Emmylou Harris
'Ramble At The Ryman' — Levon Helm
Blessed — Lucinda Williams

Best Historical Album:
'Band on the Run' (Deluxe Edition) -- Paul McCartney & Wings,
The Bristol Sessions, 1927-1928: The Big Bang Of Country Music
Complete Mythology (compilation)
Hear Me Howling!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond As Recorded By The San Francisco Bay By Chris Strachwitz In The 1960s
Young Man With The Big Beat: The Complete '56 Elvis Presley Masters

Best Boxed or Limited Edition Package:
'25 Years' -- Sting
'The King of Limbs' -- Radiohead
'The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story' -- Bruce Springsteen
'25th Anniversary Music Box' -- Tim Burton and Danny Elfman
'Wingless Angels' (deluxe edition) - Wingless Angels (Keith Richards: Executive Producer)

Best Recording Package:
'III' -- Chickenfoot
'Good Luck & True Love' -- Reckless Kelly
'Rivers and Homes' -- J. Viewz
'Scenes from the Suburbs' -- Arcade Fire
'Watch the Throne' -- Jay-Z and Kanye West

Best Surround Sound Album:
'An Evening with Dave Grusin' -- Dave Grusin
'Layla and Other Love Stories' (Super Deluxe Edition) -- Derek and the Dominoes
'Kind' - Ensemble 96
'String Sextet In C Major, Op. 140 & Nonet In F Major, Op. 31' - Louis Spohr

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