Iron Maiden fans remain furious about the iconic metal band failing to be part of the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction class. It’s something Rock Hall CEO Greg Harris touched on during an interview following the class announcement yesterday (May 3.)
Harris said, “We love that people care. That they care if they’re in or out, and that their fans care. The truth is anybody that’s nominated, the odds are good that they’ll eventually gonna get in. In fact, I think it may be as high as 90 percent eventually go in.”
He added, “Rage [Against the Machine], this was their sixth time, I believe, fifth time on the ballot, or sixth time. And so sometimes it takes a while. But let’s see where it lands. Right now, let’s celebrate this year’s class, and we can start to debate about next year’s class once the spotlight is off of this year’s class.”
Maiden’s nomination this year was their second nomination for the Rock Hall. Per Future Rock Legends, the band was previously nominated in 2021 and has been eligible for the Rock Hall since 2005.
The lack of metal representation in the Rock Hall remains one of the institution’s biggest criticisms. Since its inaugural class in 1986, the Rock Hall has only inducted four metal acts: Black Sabbath (2006), Metallica (2009), Randy Rhoads (2021) and Judas Priest (2022.) Per the Rock Hall’s inductee search list, there have been 365 total inductees.