Look, there was a lot going on -- especially right at the end, with that overstuffed “In Memoriam” sequence, Taylor Swift’s implied dig at Kanye West and the heavenly sight of Beyoncé dressed as a doily.
But the morning after the Grammy Awards, with our heads beginning to clear, a shocking fact is swimming to the surface, one that nobody seemed to notice during the show itself.
Grammys 2016: Full coverage | Red carpet | Nominees and winners | Surprises and snubs
Joe Perry performed Monday night on two separate occasions. As part of the Grammy Awards. In 2016.
That’s right: The floppy-hat model best known as the guitarist in Aerosmith -- a rock band that hasn’t released a relevant album in well over a decade -- somehow gobbled up nearly 10 minutes of music’s biggest night.
How did this happen?
Perry’s first appearance was with the Hollywood Vampires, his ultra-crusty supergroup with Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper. Joined by Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum of Guns N’ Roses, the band was at the Grammys ostensibly to pay tribute to the late Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead.
But before the Vampires played Motorhead’s signature “Ace of Spades,” they growled their way through one of their own tunes, “As Bad As I Am,” while giant flames threatened to consume half of Staples Center.
There was no reason for this performance to go on as long as it did -- even if the sequence was one of the night’s more spirited.
What really blows the mind, though, is that after the Vampires cleared the stage and the last two Grammys had been given out, Perry reemerged for an encore. And this one was truly bizarre: a four-man dogpile with Perry, Pitbull, Robin Thicke and Travis Barker.
Had these guys even met one another before Monday night? Had they even heard of one another?
The occasion was a run through Pitbull’s chaotic new single, “Bad Man,” in which the Miami rapper insists, “This is history in the making.”
Which, if you think about it, was probably true: Fifty years from now, when we look back at the evolution of the Grammy Awards, Perry’s head-scratching double play may well mark the moment the show finally released its grasp on pop currency.
Talk about toys in the attic.
1/57
A look at the show highlights from the 2016 Grammys. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for NARAS;Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for NARAS; Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
2/57
Taylor Swift accepts the award for album of the year for “1989.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/Associated Press)
3/57
Philip Bailey, from left, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson of Earth Wind & Fire present the award for album of the year. (Matt Sayles / Invision/Associated Press)
4/57
Pitbull performs “Taxi” with actress Sofia Vergara dancing to close out the show. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
5/57
Pitbull performs “Taxi.” (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
6/57
Mark Ronson accepts the award for the record of the year, for “Uptown Funk,” with Bruno Mars, center. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
7/57
Bruno Mars holds up the award for record of the year for “Uptown Funk” as he thanks the fans. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
8/57
Beyonce presents the final award of the night, record of the year. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
9/57
Lady Gaga pays tribute to David Bowie by singing through nearly half a dozen of his songs, including “Ziggy Stardust,” “Fashion” and “Heroes.” (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
10/57
Lady Gaga pays tribute to David Bowie by singing nearly half a dozen of his songs, including “Space Oddity,” “Rebel Rebel” and “Under Pressure.”
(Robyn Becl / AFP/Getty Images)
11/57
A teary Meghan Trainor recieves the award for best new artist. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
12/57
Sam Smith presents the award for best new artist onstage. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
13/57
Rapper Kendrick Lamar, center, performs a rendition of his songs “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
14/57
Rapper Kendrick Lamar, center, performs a rendition of his songs “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright.” (Matt Sayles/Invision/Associated Press)
15/57
Rapper Kendrick Lamar, center, performs a rendition of his songs “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
16/57
Musician Dave Grohl takes the stage. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
17/57
Alice Cooper, left, and Joe Perry of Hollywood Vampires perform songs including “As Bad As I Am” and “Ace of Spades.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
18/57
Johnny Deppy performs onstage with Hollywood Vampires. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
19/57
Kaley Cuoco introduces Justin Bieber and Jack U. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
20/57
Justin Bieber performs “Love Yourself” and “Where Are U Now” onstage with Jack U. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
21/57
Skrillex of Jack U performs onstage with Justin Bieber. (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
22/57
Adele takes the stage with a performance of her song “All I Ask.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
23/57
Don Cheadle introduces a performance by Kendrick Lamar. (Matt Sayles/Invision/Associated Press)
24/57
Brittany Howard of the Alabama Shakes accepts the award for rock performance for “Don’t Wanna Fight.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
25/57
Bruno Mars hits the stage. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
26/57
Twelve-year-old jazz pianist Joey Alexander smiles as the audience cheers after his performance. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
27/57
Singer Tori Kelly sings a rendition of her song “Hollow” with James Bay. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
28/57
Tori Kelly, left, and James Bay embrace after perfoming a rendition of their songs “Hollow” and “Let It Go.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
29/57
Miguel performs the song “Off the Wall” onstage. (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
30/57
Ed Sheeran recieves the award for song of the year, “Thinking Out Loud.” (Robyn Beck/ AFP / Getty Images)
31/57
Stevie Wonder, center, and Mitch Grassing, left, Kristin Maldonado and Kevin Olusola of Pentatonix present the award for song of the year. (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
32/57
Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes offers up a powerful performance with the song “Don’t Wanna Fight.” (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
33/57
Actor-filmmaker Seth MacFarlane speaks onstage. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
34/57
The Eagles perform onstage in a tribute to the late Glenn Frey. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
35/57
The Eagles perform onstage in a tribute to the late Glenn Frey. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
36/57
tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Richie. (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
37/57
during a tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Richie. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
38/57
tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Lionel Richie. (Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images)
39/57
Demi Lovato sings “Hello” for a tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Lionel Richie. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
40/57
John Legend performs “East” for a tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Lionel Richie. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
41/57
LL Cool J, left, and James Corden introduce a tribute to Lionel Richie. (Matt Sayles / Invision / Associated Press)
42/57
Little Big Town performs the song “Girl Crush.” (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
43/57
Chris Stapleton receives the Grammy country album for “Traveller” onstage. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
44/57
Singer Andra Day, right, and Ellie Goulding team up to sing “Rise Up” and “Love Me Like You Do.” (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
45/57
Host LL Cool J greets the crowd. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
46/57
The Weeknd performs two hit songs, including “Can’t Feel My Face” and “In the Night.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
47/57
Ariana Grande introduces a performance by the Weeknd, and does her own rendition of his hit song “Earned It.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
48/57
Actor O’Shea Jackson, left, and rapper/actor Ice Cube announce the nominees for rap album. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
49/57
Kendrick Lamar recieves the Grammy for his rap album “To Pimp a Butterfly” as Ice Cube looks on. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
50/57
Singers Sam Hunt and Carrie Underwood perform “Take Your Time” and “Heartbeat” onstage. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
51/57
NFL player Anquan Boldin and NFL player Von Miller announce nominees onstage. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
52/57
Taylor Swift opens the show with her song “Out of the Woods.” (Matt Sayles/Invision/Associated Press)
53/57
“Girl Crush” by Little Big Town takes home the Grammy for country duo/group performance. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
54/57
Jazz pianist Joey Alexander, 12, takes a bow following his performance at the pre-telecast show. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
55/57
Musicians Peter “Peetah” Morgan, left, Roy “Gramps” Morgan and Nakamyah “Lukes” Morgan of Morgan Heritage accept the award for reggae album for “Strictly Roots” at the pre-telecast show. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
56/57
Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap accept the Grammy for traditional pop vocal album for “Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap, the Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
57/57
Abigail Washburn and Bela Fleck head for the stage to accept their Grammy for folk album at the pre-telecast show. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Twitter: @mikaelwood
