SNUBBED: Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden is one of the most famous bands in heavy metal. Being one of the torchbearers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal along with Judas Priest. Over the band's almost fifty year career, they have released seventeen studio albums, sold millions of records, had countless sold-out shows across the entire world, and created a heavy metal icon with the band's mascot Eddie. With a legacy like this and a historical career in heavy metal, but in the music industry, why is this band not, I repeat NOT, in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

How can a band, that has left such an crater-sized impact in rock and heavy metal music, not be in the rock and roll hall of fame? Yet, Missy Elliot, a hip-hop artist was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on her FIRST year of eligibility? For context, Iron Maiden became eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, TWENTY YEARS AGO, and are STILL not in the Hall of Fame. I am aware that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has become a burden and a laughing stock to the metal community for allowing none metal and rock artists into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. With every year's nominees making every rock and metal fan cringer. Along with metalheads pleading to try to get the hard rock or metal act in by fan vote (see Ozzy Osbourne for this year's nominees voting. The Rock Hall need to change their views and undo an injustice to the metal community with this travesty. And with this article, myself and many metal fans would love to explain, why a band needs to be included into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in this article called Snubbed.

With a sound that is recognizable to any metalhead, Maiden are a band that is one of the pioneers of heavy metal in a more technical and grandiose way. From the iconic triple guitar attack of Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers, to the pummeling and driving bass of Steve Harris and the legendary drumming of Nicko McBrain. Then, you have the legendary Bruce Dickinson on vocals. With an operatic, almost anthemic vocal performance, there is NO band that could match this rhythm section and demanding vocal attack. Even with the band's first two records featuring original vocalist Paul Di'Anno, the band was on to something with their driving fusion of hard rock, punk and heavy metal sound. Amplified with aggressive guitars, impressive soloing and an overall iconic and instantly identifiable sound. The band's sound was an inspiration and influence to countless well-known bands such as Metallica, Slipknot, Opeth, Sabaton and Emperor. Maiden's influence would not only inspire other metal bands, but would also help in the evolution and creation of the power metal genre. A genre that took inspiration from Maiden, but would push the genre further into the theatrics with higher vocals, strings sections, keyboards and complex guitar solos. Spearheaded by legendary power metal acts like Blind Guardian, Helloween and DragonForce. For their influence in the metal community, they need to be included in the Rock Hall, no question.

Regarding the music and the band's product, the band is one of the top twenty five highest selling bands of all time with 88.6 million albums. The band's albums have continuously sold well, with most to all of their albums going platinum. With their third album, The Number of The Beast, selling over 20 million albums as of 2023. The band's legacy in the music industry, especially with the theatrics of the band's live show, always builds excitement and anticipation for the band's tour and album themes. Being able to do it for almost fifty years is an astounding feat. To not only drawing from the band's longevity, but also the fanbase and musical talent of the band itself. With merchandise, the legendary band symbol Eddie, from a marketing aspect, creates an identifiable symbol that is synonymous with the band. Creating a new Eddie with every album and tour cycle, dates the album, but also launches a memorable look with each cycle. It made each album have it's own unique merch line, tour/stage show and album theme with its artwork. Creating exclusivity and collector items for classic t-shirts and tour paraphernalia for fans of the band. The band's merch can still be found in popular alternative clothing stores in malls like Hot Topic, FYE, Spencer's and even popular department stores like Target and Wal-Mart. Just for that criteria alone, Maiden needs to be in the Hall of Fame for just their success in the recording industry, merch recognition and sales, along with integration into the pop culture lexicon.

Iron Maiden is a band that DESERVES to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and should be a first ballot entry. This band has been such an inspiration in metal and hard rock, leaving a wake of countless legendary bands to follow in their footsteps, or even pave their own trail to create their own path inspired by this legendary act. Another argument that they need to be in is that Judas Priest, their co-contributors to the creation of the NWOBHM sound, were inducted in 2022. So to allow one leading band and not the other is unjustifiable. Many would even say Iron Maiden should have gone in first before Priest, but the Hall of Fame would disagree. I know that the article will not convince the people who run the Rock Hall to instantly put Maiden into the Hall with no arguments or an apology for the late entry, but it needs to be brought to attention what the criteria and influence a band has done in the music scene qualifies to be inducted into the Rock Hall. I myself, and countless other fans, have asked that the name of it be changed to the Music Hall of Fame since so many bands and artists that aren't rock and roll are in the ROCK AND ROLL Hall of Fame. Artists like Madonna, R.E.M., 2Pac, James Brown and Bob Marley were inducted before countless other metal and hard rock acts.

Thankfully, the metal world took this problem into it's own hands and created The Metal Hall of Fame. A non-profit organization dedicated to enshrining legendary musicians and music industry executives who are responsible for making rock and metal music what is it today. They also pair up with countless charities like The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund and D.A.D. (Drums and Disabilities) Program. Famous inductees include Voivod, Derek Riggs (the creator of Iron Maiden's Eddie mascot), Saxon, Testament, and former Maiden vocalists Paul Di'Anno and Blaze Bayley. If you would like to find out more or if you'd like to donate or support them, check it out HERE .

Do you think Iron Maiden deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Why should they be or why not? Let us know in our social media as well as vote in our poll below. You can also suggest what band is snubbed in the Rock Hall and why they should be in there.