IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris says he would not attend the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame even if the ceremony did not conflict with the band's touring schedule.
IRON MAIDEN is part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2026, with the induction ceremony set for November 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, airing on ABC and Disney+. The band is currently booked for Australian tour dates on November 13 in Melbourne and November 15 in Sydney, making attendance logistically difficult regardless.
But Harris made clear the scheduling conflict isn't the real issue. "I don't do those sort of things," he said. "I didn't even go to the recent red-carpet thing for the documentary." He added that industry recognition has never been the band's motivation: "It's never really bothered me one way or the other, because awards aren't what we do this for."
Vocalist Bruce Dickinson echoed Harris's indifference when asked the same question, answering simply "No" and adding, "I can't even summon the energy to be vitriolic about it."
Alongside the band's current lineup, former members Paul Di'Anno, Blaze Bayley, Dennis Stratton, Clive Burr and Nicko McBrain will also be inducted, joining current guitarists Adrian Smith, Dave Murray and Janick Gers as part of the honor.
IRON MAIDEN had been eligible for induction since 2004 but received only two prior nominations, in 2021 and 2023, finishing fourth in fan voting the latter year before this year's induction was confirmed.
The band's relationship with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has long been a point of friction among fans, given IRON MAIDEN's decades-long absence from the ballot despite selling well over 100 million albums worldwide and remaining a top arena and stadium draw since forming in London in 1975. Harris and Dickinson's comments suggest the band views the honor as a footnote rather than validation of a career built almost entirely on relentless touring.