Gary Holt, guitarist for Exodus and Slayer, has once again voiced his strong stance on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, offering a direct and unfiltered criticism in a recent interview.
During an appearance on “The Mistress Carrie Podcast,” Holt was asked whether induction into the Rock Hall is important for bands such as Iron Maiden in terms of giving heavy metal the recognition it deserves.
“I personally couldn’t give a s**t, ’cause the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is f**king lame,” Holt responded (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “The obvious ones get in, and if you had, like, three Motown hits, you’re pretty much guaranteed of getting in. Iron Maiden‘s still selling out stadiums, and isn’t in. Thin Lizzy had hits. They pioneered twin guitar rock harmonies, and they had just legendary albums. They sold a lot of albums. They probably will never get in. [Female rapper] Missy Elliott is in. F**king [rap band] N.W.A.’s in, and they wrote vile anti-police rhetoric. And I think they had, like, what? Two records? How do they f**king get in? And Thin Lizzy‘s not in there. Judas Priest got in through a back door. Motörhead should be in there. It’s a popularity contest. They had to grudgingly let Kiss in, who should have been a first-ballot member.”
Holt went on to say he has no desire to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum in Cleveland.
“I’ve never gone to the [Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame museum in Cleveland]. I have no desire to go,” he revealed. “It’s f**king stupid… I mean, I’m sure there’s some great memorabilia to look at in the place, but I just f**king — I don’t care. It’s kind of like the person who goes to Hollywood and walks around looking for certain stars on the [Hollywood] Walk Of Fame. I couldn’t give a f**k.”
Iron Maiden members have historically expressed apathy, and sometimes disdain, toward the institution. Seven years ago, bassist Steve Harris told Rolling Stone that the exclusion didn’t bother him.
“I don’t mind that we’re not in things like that. I don’t think about things like that. It’s very nice if people give you awards or accolades, but we didn’t get into the business for that sort of thing. I’m certainly not going to lose sleep if we don’t get any sort of award, not just that one, any award. I don’t think we deserve to have this or that necessarily. With what we do, whatever comes of it is great. Whatever doesn’t come of it is great, too.”
Frontman Bruce Dickinson has been more vocal in his criticism. In 2018, he notably called the Hall “an utter and complete load of bollocks” and described the organization as being “run by a bunch of sanctimonious bloody Americans who wouldn’t know rock and roll if it hit them in the face.”
He later clarified his stance to The Jerusalem Post, expressing frustration that his comments were misinterpreted as bitterness.
“I was so annoyed with that coverage because they took my statement out of context to make it seem like I was upset that we weren’t in the Hall Of Fame. I’m really happy we’re not there and I would never want to be there. If we’re ever inducted, I will refuse — they won’t bloody be having my corpse in there.
Dickinson concluded:
“Rock and roll music does not belong in a mausoleum in Cleveland. It’s a living, breathing thing, and if you put it in a museum, then it’s dead. It’s worse than horrible, it’s vulgar.”
