Last year, I called the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame music\u2019s \u201ccringy and deeply vain cathedral of awarded immortality.\u201d Once upon a time, getting enshrined in its hallowed halls meant something. Now? Not so much. And my ire towards the Rock Hall has nothing to do with its decision to induct country and rap artists. Those who begrudge the institution for that aren\u2019t my type. No, my gripes with the Rock Hall are selection-based, because I don\u2019t quite understand the voting committee\u2019s logic. Phil Collins can get in twice, but the Meters, Thin Lizzy, War, and Devo can\u2019t get in once?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Heavy metal music doesn\u2019t have a strong residency in the Rock Hall. Black Sabbath got enshrined in 2006, becoming the first metal act to join the Rock Hall\u2019s ranks (23 years after it began, mind you). Metallica joined them in 2009, but the genre was boxed out every year until Judas Priest got in in 2022. That left Mot\u00f6rhead, Iron Maiden, and, maybe, Megadeath as the greatest metal bands not yet inducted into the Rock Hall. This year, Iron Maiden finally got the call after 21 years of eligibility and two failed nominations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Per the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame\u2019s requirements, artists are eligible for induction 25 years after their first commercial recording was released and \u201chave demonstrated musical excellence, impact, and influence.\u201d Iron Maiden have, from my vantage, inspired countless metal bands since forming in 1975: Ghost, Anthrax, Mastodon, Metallica, TOOL, Avenged Sevenhold\u2026 just to name a few. Hell, Lady Gaga is a huge fan, and her track \u201cHeavy Metal Lover\u201d has some subtle Maiden citations. On top of that, they\u2019ve racked up a Grammy award, 130 million album sales, 600 certifications, and played over 2,500 live shows.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Three years ago, Bruce Dickinson called the Rock Hall \u201can utter and complete load of bollocks\u201d and rejected the idea of getting inducted. Iron Maiden\u2019s Instagram page celebrated<\/a> the enshrinement news: \u201cWe\u2019d like to thank the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for including us (and former members who were all part of our story) in the 2026 roll call of inductees. Iron Maiden have always been about our relationship with our fans above anything else, including awards and industry accolades. However, having said that, it\u2019s always nice to be recognised and honoured for any achievements within the music industry too!\u201d<\/p>\n But that\u2019s where the party ends. Iron Maiden will not attend this year\u2019s induction ceremony due to touring conflicts, as confirmed by the band\u2019s manager Rod Smallwood. In an email sent to Billboard<\/a>, Smallwood wrote: \u201cAs the most observant have already noticed, the band will be on tour in Australia around the November date of the Induction ceremony for the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in Los Angeles. In accepting, Iron Maiden made it very clear to the R&R HoF that the fans always come first and that the shows will of course go on\u2026 We would like to assure all our fans in Australia that the Australian and New Zealand dates will remain unaffected, and we look forward to bringing the Run For Your Lives Tour to them on the penultimate stop of our 50th anniversary celebrations.\u201d<\/p>\n