Iron Maiden were announced among the inductees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 on Monday night, but given singer Bruce Dickinson’s previous statements about the institution, it remains to be seen if the legendary metal band will show up to the ceremony in November.
Dickinson said in 2018 that he would refuse induction, following on with the scathing comment, “Rock and roll music does not belong in a mausoleum in Cleveland.”
That same year, Dickinson also declared, “I actually think the Rock & 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 ‘n’ roll if it hit them in the face. They need to stop taking Prozac and start drinking fucking beer.”
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However, in a statement released to Billboard upon Monday’s announcement of the band’s induction, Iron Maiden manager Ron Smallwood offered a more cordial stance on the Rock Hall on behalf of the metal icons: “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. 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 recognized and honored for any achievements within the music industry too!”
The statement continued, “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 visiting the Americas and beyond. We would also like to congratulate our fellow 2026 inductees and extend our gratitude as ever to our fans for their loyalty, perseverance and support for over 50 years now! See you all, somewhere on tour.”
Perhaps things have changed since Dickinson trashed the Rock Hall eight years ago. While metal has been famously overlooked through the years, bands like Black Sabbath, Metallica, and Judas Priest have all been inducted.
That said, the band has a tour booked for Australia in November, which would keep them away from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s November 14th induction ceremony in Los Angeles regardless — unless they move around their schedule.
In late August, Iron Maiden will kick off the North American leg of their “Run for Your Lives World Tour,” featuring support from Megadeth and Anthrax. Tickets are available here.