IRON MAIDEN, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, SOUNDGARDEN nominated for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame | Revolver

IRON MAIDEN, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, SOUNDGARDEN nominated for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

2023 ballot also includes White Stripes, Joy Division, New Order, A Tribe Called Quest, more
Iron Maiden Live 2019 Kevin Wilson, Kevin Wilson
Iron Maiden
photograph by Kevin Wilson

You'd be hard-pressed to find a metalhead who actually respects the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, an institution that's inducted many amazing musicians but has always treated heavy music like an historical footnote. That said, the 2023 nominees have been announced, and with several of heavy music's biggest names on the ballot, the Hall of Fame has a chance to finally earn a fist-bump from the headbanging world. 

Iron MaidenRage Against the Machine and Soundgarden are all back on the ballot this year, in addition to a slew of first-time and repeat nominees from outside the halls of heavy. White Stripes, Missy Elliott, Sheryl Crow, Warren Zevon, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, Willie Nelson, and — packaged together as one entity — Joy Division and New Order have all been nominated for the first time, while Kate Bush, the Spinners and A Tribe Called Quest earned repeat nominations alongside the aforementioned heavy hitters.

This marks Iron Maiden and Soundgarden's second times being nominated for the annual induction ritual, and the fifth (!) time Rage Against the Machine have been nominated. Maiden and Rage were both snubbed from the title in 2021, and Rage were also passed on last year, while Judas Priest were half-inducted — earning an "award for musical excellence," but not making it into the main Performers category. 

After the votes are cast, the results will be announced this May, with a ceremony to follow later this fall. Regardless of what happens, this is always a great moment to revisit the immortal words of Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson, who beautifully torched the institution during a 2018 stop on one of his spoken word tours. 

"I actually think the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is an utter and complete load of bollocks, to be honest with you," Dickinson told a room of fans. He added, "It's run by a bunch of sanctimonious bloody Americans who wouldn't know rock & roll if it hit them in the face. They need to stop taking Prozac and start drinking fucking beer."