Video highlights have emerged from the 2026 Metal Hall of Fame induction ceremony held January 21 across three iconic Sunset Strip venues -- the Rainbow Bar & Grill, the Roxy Theater, and the Viper Room. The evening honored a class of inductees whose careers helped define the explosive Los Angeles metal scene of the 1980s: Warren DeMartini (RATT), Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P.), Tracii Guns (L.A. GUNS), Rikki Rockett (POISON), and legendary MTV Headbangers Ball host Riki Rachtman.
Holmes was inducted by fellow guitarist Carlos Cavazo, who delivered an emotional speech recounting their shared experiences on the Sunset Strip during its heyday, when Hollywood Boulevard was the epicenter of a global metal movement. The induction ceremony for DeMartini included a video retrospective of his work with RATT, highlighting his fluid, blues-influenced guitar style that made songs like "Round and Round" and "Lay It Down" instant classics of the era. Tracii Guns, whose band L.A. GUNS epitomized the sleazy glamour of Hollywood metal, received his honor alongside clips of the band's most iconic live performances.
Hosted by veteran rock journalist Eddie Trunk and entertainment personality Cathy Rankin, the event culminated in an all-star jam celebrating the legacy of the 1980s Sunset Strip metal scene. The jam session brought inductees and guests together on the Roxy's intimate stage for renditions of classic tracks that once echoed through these very venues during the genre's golden age. The footage captures a palpable sense of nostalgia mixed with genuine camaraderie among musicians who survived one of rock's most excessive and transformative eras.
The Metal Hall of Fame, founded in 2017, has steadily grown in prestige and now serves as one of the premier annual events recognizing contributions to heavy metal culture. The choice to spread the 2026 ceremony across three legendary Sunset Strip landmarks added a theatrical element that connected the inductees directly to the geography of their rise to fame. The Riki Rachtman induction was particularly notable, honoring his role in bringing metal to MTV's mainstream audience during Headbangers Ball's peak years. Footage from the event has been widely shared across metal media outlets and social platforms throughout the week.