Iron Maiden failing to make the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame remains a bone of serious contention with their fans, with many outraged at the idea that a band who have helped to define heavy metal itself could still somehow be overlooked while plenty of artists they've influenced made it in years ago.
Earlier this year, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame CEO Greg Harris told Maiden fans to be patient, assuring them that the metal legends will almost certainly make it in eventually.
"We love that people care - that they care if they're in or out, and that their fans care," he commented. "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% eventually go in," he added. "Rage – this was their fifth or sixth time on the ballot. 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."
Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has been famously savage with his opinion on the whole thing, describing the Hall Of Fame as an "utter, complete load of bollocks", adding that he believes 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!” he added loudly when discussing the issue at one of his spoken word shows in 2019.
Now, as part of an exclusive interview featured in the brand new issue of Metal Hammer, out now, we asked Maiden founder, bassist and band leader Steve Harris for his thoughts on the matter.
"I’ve never been worried about it," he shrugs. "I’m not one way or the other. I’m not really against it or anything like that, but, you know, if people get recognised there that’s fine.
"But I’ve never been bothered with it," he reaffirms. "We’ve never done music to be in some Hall Of Fame or whatever. And also, if it was a thing that was voted by fans, that’d be ok, but the way it works, it doesn’t matter how many fans vote, it only counts as one vote. So it doesn’t really represent anything. I don’t know how I’d feel about it if we did actually get [inducted]."
Maiden are midway through their epic Future Past tour, the full dates of which you can see below. To read more from Metal Hammer's interview with the band, pick up their new issue.
Iron Maiden Future Past tour dates Europe 2023
May 30: Prague O2 Arena, Czech Republic
May 31: Prague O2 Arena, Czech Republic
Jun 03: Tampere Nokia Arena, Finland
Jun 04: Tampere Nokia Arena, Finland
Jun 07: Bergen Koengen, Norway
Jun 09: Solvesborg Sweden Rock Festival, Sweden
Jun 11: Leipzig Quarterback Immobilien Arena, Germany
Jun 13: Krakow Tauron Arena, Poland
Jun 14: Krakow Tauron Arena, Poland
Jun 17: Clisson Hellfest, France
Jun 19: Zurich Hallenstadion, Switzerland
Jun 21: Hannover Zag Arena, Germany
Jun 24: Dublin 3 Arena, Ireland
Jun 26: Glasgow OVO Hydro, UK
Jun 28: Leeds, First Direct Arena, UK
Jun 30: Manchester AO Arena, UK
Jul 03: Nottingham Motorpoint Arena, UK
Jul 04: Birmingham Utilita Arena, UK
Jul 07: London O2 Arena, UK
Jul 08: London O2 Arena, UK
Jul 11: Amsterdam Ziggo Dome, Holland
Jul 13: Antwerp Sportpaleis, Belgium
Jul 15: Milan, The Return of The Gods Festival, Italy
Jul 18: Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain
Jul 20: Estadio Enrique Roca, Murcia, Spain
Jul 22: Bizkaia Arena Bec! Bilbao, Spain
Jul 25 Dortmund Westfalenhalle, Germany
Jul 26 Dortmund Westfalenhalle, Germany
Jul 29: Frankfurt,Festhalle, Germany
Jul 31: Munich Olympiahalle, Germany
Aug 01: Munich Olympiahalle, Germany
Aug 02: Wacken Open Air, Germany
