Iron MaidenFans have waited for Iron Maiden to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but the band members themselves aren’t all that interested in being a part of the festivities.
And they’d feel the same way even if the induction ceremony, taking place this November, didn’t clash with their upcoming Australian tour.
In April, it was announced that the British heavy metal legends would finally be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after years of campaigning from their fans. They receive the honour alongside Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Luther Vandross, Oasis, Phil Collins, Sade, and Wu-Tang Clan.
Another 10 members of the music industry will also be inducted, in the categories of Early Influences, Musical Excellence, and the coveted Ahmet Ertegun Award. Those inductees include Queen Latifah, Fela Kuti, Rick Rubin, Ed Sullivan, and more.
In a new interview with Metal Hammer, Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson – who’s previously been a vocal opponent of the Hall of Fame – and bassist Steve Harris were asked if they were planning to turn down the honour.
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“It’s never really bothered me one way or the other, because awards aren’t what we do this for,” Harris said. “But in a weird way I’m glad it’s happened so the Americans will stop banging on about it. To me, if you get offered something, you say, ‘Thank you very much.’ But did I lose sleep over getting it or not getting it? No.”
Dickinson added, “I can’t even summon the energy to be vitriolic about it. I appreciate that a significant number of people are happy for us. That’s nice. It’s not something we’re bothered about.”
The pair were then asked whether they would have attended the ceremony if they hadn’t already planned to tour Australia this November, to which Dickinson plainly responded, “No.”
Harris explained, “I don’t do those sorts of things. I didn’t even go to the recent red-carpet event for the [Iron Maiden] documentary. It’s not me.”
Just days after their impending induction was announced, the band’s manager, Rod Smallwood, confirmed that the Australian dates would go ahead and they wouldn’t cancel to appear at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame festivities in Los Angeles.
“As the most observant have already noticed, the band will be on tour in Australia around the November date of the Induction ceremony for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Los Angeles,” Smallwood told Billboard. “In accepting, Iron Maiden made it very clear to the R&R HoF that the fans always come first and that the shows will, of course, go on.”
Smallwood added, “We would like to assure all our fans in Australasia that the Australian and New Zealand dates will remain unaffected, and we look forward to bringing the Run For Your Lives Tour to them on the penultimate stop of our 50th anniversary celebrations.”
For the tour, Iron Maiden will be accompanied by special guests Megadeth, likely to perform in Australia for the final time. Tickets are available via the TEG Dainty website.
