Rob Halford has just weighed in on fellow metal mates Iron Maiden's candidacy for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2023, saying the honor is overdue. Halford's own band Judas Priest was inducted into the Rock Hall in 2022, and Halford gave some insight into what goes on behind its very controversial curtain.
"When you're actually in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame you're given a vote as a band and Maiden will get Priest's vote without a doubt," Halford told Metal Hammer. "That's just what we do for each other – we've had very similar journeys in both bands, so let's make it happen for Maiden. It'd be brilliant – Black Sabbath, Priest and Maiden, what more could a metal maniac ask for?”
Halford continued, saying that "Iron Maiden's nomination is absolutely overdue. I vote for them every day; you can do it by phone and it's dead easy. It takes you to the list of nominees, then you pick the bands you are voting for – and I pick Maiden every single day."
There you have it, folks, from the Metal God himself: Iron Maiden — all day, and every day! Though it's worth noting that Iron Maiden was previously nominated in 2021 and did not get in.
Seriously, though, it's absolutely time for Maiden to be inducted into the RRHOF. The politics of how that process works is a bit puzzling at times, but it does seem they've finally heard the calls from fans everywhere, and are now making the effort to include everyone — and that means heavy metal, too. Albeit, that effort is clearly on their own clock.
Voting will be open through May and inductees for 2023 will be announced soon after. You can cast your vote here, so make sure your voice is heard and vote for Iron Maiden (and Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine, too!).
The full list of nominees for 2023 are:
- Kate Bush
- Sheryl Crow
- Missy Elliott
- Iron Maiden
- Joy Division/New Order
- Cyndi Lauper
- George Michael
- Willie Nelson
- Rage Against the Machine
- Soundgarden
- The Spinners
- A Tribe Called Quest
- The White Stripes
- Warren Zevon
Iron Maiden's members that will potentially be inducted are Clive Burr, Paul Di’Anno, Bruce Dickinson, Janick Gers, Steve Harris, Nicko McBrain, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Dennis Stratton. Iron Maiden was previously nominated in 2021.
Rage Against The Machine's members are of course Tim Commerford, Zack de la Rocha, Tom Morello, Brad Wilk. Rage Against The Machine has been nominated for the Rock Hall in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022.
Soundgarden's members for induction are potentially Matt Cameron, Chris Cornell, Ben Shepherd, Kim Thayil, and Hiro Yamamoto. Soundgarden has only been nominated once before in 2020.
