Exodus and Slayer guitarist Gary Holt recently shared his candid thoughts on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s treatment of metal bands. He expressed his frustration with what he sees as institutional bias in a statement made on The Mistress Carrie Podcast.
When asked about the importance of Iron Maiden’s potential induction and whether it would give heavy metal the respect it deserves, Holt made it clear he has little regard for the institution itself.
“I personally couldn’t give a sh*t, ’cause the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is fucking lame,” Holt said. “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.”
Holt went on to criticize the Hall’s selection criteria. He pointed to what he sees as inconsistent standards for different genres.
“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,” he continued. “[Female rapper] Missy Elliott is in. F*cking [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*cking get in?”
The guitarist concluded by highlighting other metal acts he believes deserve recognition. He criticized the Hall’s approach to the genre.
“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,” Holt said. “They had to grudgingly let KISS in, who should have been a first-ballot member.”
Holt’s comments come at a particularly ironic time. The metal community continues to grapple with the Rock Hall’s treatment of the genre and its most influential acts.
Ironically, Eddie Trunk reported that Iron Maiden has actually been inducted into the 2026 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band will not attend the November 14th ceremony in Los Angeles due to their touring schedule in Australia. The band’s manager Rod Smallwood explained that Iron Maiden prioritized their fans and 50th-anniversary tour dates over attending the induction event.
Holt’s frustrations reflect a broader pattern of delayed recognition for metal acts within the Hall of Fame. Blabbermouth noted that Black Sabbath wasn’t inducted until 2006. Metallica followed three years later, despite the Hall’s stated eligibility requirement of 25 years after an artist’s first record release. Kerry King of Slayer noted that his band has never even appeared on the nomination list despite 40 years of activity.
The guitarist’s criticism extends beyond just the timing of inductions to what he sees as fundamental bias in the selection process. Blabbermouth reported that Holt views the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s selection criteria as inconsistent and biased toward pop and rap genres. He argues that artists with minimal discographies receive recognition while prolific metal acts are overlooked.
Holt’s perspective represents a sentiment shared by many in the metal community who feel the genre’s cultural impact and commercial success have been consistently undervalued by the Rock Hall’s voting body. His comments highlight the ongoing tension between metal’s massive global fanbase and the institution’s apparent reluctance to fully embrace the genre’s contributions to rock music history.
