For the many years that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame overlooked Iron Maiden, the band had an inconsistent view of the museum. Vocalist Bruce Dickinson was not a fan, and once called the Hall "an utter, complete load of bollocks." Other band members felt differently.
One couldn't know for sure how the metal legends would respond to the news that they would be inducted in November's ceremony, but many likely assumed Maiden would take the high road. That is exactly what they did on social media.
In Iron Maiden's official statement on X, the group wrote, in part, "We’d 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...It also seems appropriate for the band to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year as we continue our 50th anniversary celebrations with our Run For Your Lives World Tour."
Iron Maiden make official announcement about Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction
As most pure rock fans understand, whether they actively listened to the band's records or not, Miaden should have been inducted in the year of their first eligibility. Not only did they make iconic albums, but they also influenced a lot of the best metal bands that exist today.
The @rockhall Foundation have announced Iron Maiden as one of its inductees for 2026.
— Iron Maiden (@IronMaiden) April 14, 2026
Quote from Rod Smallwood on behalf of Iron Maiden:
“We’d 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… pic.twitter.com/xEoNCTLit6
Without the Brits, maybe Metallica doesn't exist, for instance. Maybe part of the issue with it taking so long to induct an obviously worthy band is the categories for the Rock & Rock Hall of Fame itself. A Performers category is one way to be inducted, but an Early Influencer category is too. Iron Maiden's first record was released in 1980, so too late for the latter.
The other Rock Hall inductees for 2026 in the Performers category include many Brits and a couple of Americans. The list includes Phil Collins, Joy Division + New Order, Billy Idol, Sade, Maiden, and Oasis from the UK, and Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan from the United States.
The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 14, but, as opposed to recent years, it won't be televised live. That seems like a missed opportunity. Instead, rock fans can watch and stream the ceremony on ABC and Disney+ beginning in December.
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