Iron Maiden will be skipping the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.
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The band are among the inductees announced earlier this week in the main ‘Performer’ category, which also includes Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.
Iron Maiden have been eligible for induction since 2005, having released their self-titled debut album back in 1980. In the years since, they’ve been nominated twice, but are only now finally set to be inducted. However, it’s now been revealed that they won’t be attending the ceremony.
It comes after comments from frontman Bruce Dickinson in 2018, when he branded the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame “an utter and complete load of bollocks”.
His words came in response to a fan during a Q&A, when he was asked if he thinks the band should be inducted. “Absolutely,” he replied. “I actually think the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is an utter and complete load of bollocks, to be honest with you.
“It’s run by a bunch of sanctimonious bloody Americans who wouldn’t know rock and roll if it hit them in the face,” he continued. “They need to stop taking Prozac and start drinking fucking beer.”
Now, the band’s manager, Rod Smallwood, has confirmed that they won’t appear at the ceremony, but only because they don’t want to interrupt the Australia and New Zealand leg of their ongoing ‘Run For Your Lives’ Tour.
In a statement to Billboard, Smallwood said: “As 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.”
He added, “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…”
Smallwood went on to say: “We would like to assure all our fans in Australasia 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.”
It’s unclear if Dickinson still feels the same way, but the band did put out a statement of celebration upon news that they had finally received the honour.
Earlier this week, Smallwood said: “Iron Maiden have always been about our relationship with our fans above anything else, including awards and industry accolades. However, having said that, it’s always nice to be recognised and honoured for any achievements within the music industry too!
Well I was speaking to my mummy last night when the news broke and she thinks I may have been a little hasty with my perception of the organization she’s told me to stop being a dick and go to the awards and behave and you never know you might enjoy it
— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) April 14, 2026
Liam Gallagher, who is also inducted this year with Oasis, has expressed a similar sentiment in the past. He had previously reacted to their 2024 nomination by writing: “Fuck the Rock n Roll hall of fame its full of BUMBACLARTS”. He also discouraged fans from voting for them, calling it “a load of bollox”.
Gallagher reiterated his sentiments last year, saying the Rock Hall was “for WANKERS”. However, he replied to one fan asking what would happen if they got in by saying: “Obv go and say it’s the best thing EVER.”
He will, in fact, be attending the ceremony, saying earlier this week that his mother has told him to “stop being a dick” and accept the honour. He also confirmed that he and Noel would be “both going”, writing: “We’re soooooo proud and humble.”
Meanwhile, Peter Hook has also confirmed he’ll be attending while dedicating Joy Division‘s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame to Ian Curtis. It is not yet known whether the current members of New Order will be in attendance, too.
The bassist quit New Order in 2007 due to friction with his bandmates, and there had also been a legal row over ownership of assets. Last year, Hook said there was still “animosity” with the group, which he called a “bad cover version” band.
In other Iron Maiden news, the band’s ‘Run For Your Lives’ tour will include the unique EddFest celebration in Knebworth Park on July 11. The event’s name is taken from the band’s famous mascot, Eddie, and comes almost two decades after they headlined an earlier iteration of the festival in Bangalore, India.
The Darkness, The Hu, Airbourne and The Almighty are set to support, while the event will include the biggest Eddie’s Dive Bar ever, as well as Maiden-themed food and other specialised stalls. Proceedings will kick off on Friday 10 July for fans with camping tickets, and you can find any remaining tickets here.
The metal legends are also set to headline the first day of Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky, in September. They’ll be joined at the rock and metal festival by the likes of My Chemical Romance, Tool and Limp Bizkit.
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