Rock Hall President Has Message For Iron Maiden Following Induction Snub

Rock Hall President Has Message For Iron Maiden Following Induction Snub
Original Photo Credit: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0 (www.flickr.com/people/69880995@N04), via Wikimedia Commons

A very non-rock group of inductees is going into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame later this year. while Rage Against The Machine was among those chosen to be inducted, the remaining honorees are decidedly less rock. Willie Nelson, Missy Elliott, Kate Bush, George Michael, Sheryl Crow and The Spinners will also be inducted during a ceremony in Brooklyn on November 3. 

Snubs from this year’s nominations list included Soundgarden and global metal legends Iron Maiden. While Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris has previously said the band really doesn’t care about the honor, many of the band’s fans were outraged at the omission, and that included Chris Jericho

“Dear @rockhall, F*CK OFF. That is all. @RollingStone,” Jericho tweeted. 

Now, Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame president and CEO Greg Harris has addressed criticism that the institution has received over the omission. This year was the second time Maiden had appeared on the nomination ballot, but again they didn’t get in. 

“We love that people care — that they care if they’re in or out, and that their fans care,” Harris told Audacy.

“Now the truth is anybody that’s nominated, the odds are good that they’re eventually gonna get in. In fact, I think it may be as high as 90 percent eventually go in. Rage, who are finally getting inducted, 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.”

Numerous hard rock and heavy metal artists didn’t even make the nominations list earlier this year. Notable snubs include: Foreigner, Motörhead, Styx, Boston, Thin Lizzy, REO Speedwagon, Pantera, Ronnie James Dio, Motley Crue, Jethro Tull, Sammy Hagar, MC5, J. Geils Band, Eddie Money, Danzig (and/or Misfits), Alice In Chains and Smashing Pumpkins, among others. 

“I don’t mind that we’re not in things like that,” Harris said. “I don’t think about things like that. It’s very nice if people give you awards or accolades, but we didn’t get into the business for that sort of thing. I’m certainly not going to lose sleep if we don’t get any sort of award, not just that one, any award. I don’t think we deserve to have this or that necessarily. With what we do, whatever comes of it is great. Whatever doesn’t come of it is great, too.”

B.J. LISKO
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