Regardless of being a staple of British rock and steel, Iron Maiden aren’t within the Rock and Roll Corridor Of Fame – the truth is, they’ve been rejected twice already. Nevertheless, they’ve been put ahead to affix the Corridor but once more, sitting amongst the nominees for Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame’s Class of 2026. Properly, third time fortunate…

Because it stands, Iron Maiden have made it by way of to the ultimate spherical of nominations. They sit alongside some fierce competitors, with the likes of Jeff Buckley, Billy Idol, Pleasure Division/New Order, and even Oasis additionally hoping to snag a spot within the Corridor Of Fame.

To be eligible for nomination, a minimal of 25 years should have handed since an artist’s first business launch. With Iron Maiden’s self-titled debut dropping in 1980, which means the band have been eligible for over 20 years – it’s honest to say their induction to the Corridor has been a very long time coming.

1,200 artists, historians, and members of the music business will determine who makes the reduce. There’s additionally a fan vote presently operating on the Corridor’s web site. As soon as a choice has been reached, the Class of 2026 might be introduced in late April.

Prior to now, Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson hasn’t been very fussed concerning the Rock and Roll Corridor Of Fame. On his spoken phrase world tour in 2018, he criticised the establishment: “I truly assume the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame is an utter and full load of bollocks, to be sincere with you,” he mentioned [via Consequence of Sound].

“It’s run by a bunch of sanctimonious bloody Individuals who wouldn’t know rock ‘n’ roll if it hit them within the face,” he continued. “They should cease taking Prozac and begin consuming fucking beer.”

He’s additionally gone on document saying he’d “refuse” to be inducted. “I’m actually completely satisfied we’re not [in the Rock Hall] and I’d by no means need to be there,” he advised The Jerusalem Publish in 2018. “If we’re ever inducted, I’ll refuse – they gained’t bloody be having my corpse in there.”

“Rock & roll music doesn’t belong in a mausoleum in Cleveland. It’s a residing, respiration factor, and if you happen to put it in a museum, then it’s useless. It’s worse than horrible, it’s vulgar.”

Regardless, Tom Morello has been working exhausting to get Iron Maiden within the hallowed Corridor. Morello has been a member of the since 2014, making it his mission to get extra steel acts into the Corridor Of Fame.

“Numerous nice bands have gotten into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame extra just lately, partly as a result of they’ve had stronger advocates within the room,” the guitarist advised Guitar World in 2024. “I’m a kind of advocates… This yr I’m all in on Maiden.”

“I do know they don’t care,” he added. “[But] I don’t care that they don’t care, as a result of I believe it’s the place the place they belong.”

Thus far, he’s helped get Randy Rhoads posthumously inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 2021. He additionally pushed for the committee to induct Ozzy Osbourne for his solo work in October 2024, alongside his pre-existing nod of respect when Black Sabbath had been inducted in 2026. “I’ve to provide credit score to the Corridor of Fame – they put me within the room as a result of I complained so rattling a lot!” he mentioned.

Surprisingly, nominees for the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame’s Class of 2026 additionally embrace the likes of Mariah Carey and Lauryn Hill. Whereas the pair are magnificent artists, with Carey’s pop and R&B topping charts and Hill’s 1998 The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill transformative impact on hip-hop, they’re not typically related to ‘Rock and Roll’.

Kiss legend Gene Simmons just lately went on document saying that the Rock Corridor needs to be reserved for rock acts. “Hip-hop doesn’t belong within the Rock and Roll Corridor Of Fame – nor does opera or symphony orchestras,” he advised the Legends N Leaders podcast.

Nevertheless, the critique result in Public Enemy’s Chuck D telling TMZ that Simmons was ignoring the “roll” half the Corridor’s title.  “Every little thing else aside from rock, when rock ‘n’ roll splintered within the ’60s, is the roll… Kiss are rock gods, however they don’t have a variety of roll to them.”

Regardless, Iron Maiden have an thrilling yr forward of them. Their fiftieth anniversary is being correctly marked this yr with Might documentary, Burning Ambition. The identical month, they’re embarking on the second European leg of their Run For Your Lives World Tour.

You may forged your vote for the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame’s Class of 2026 now.