Yesterday the class of 2021 Rock & Roll Hall Of Famers were announced. And Gene Simmons is not impressed.
On the bill are a diverse range of artists including Foo Fighters, Jay-Z, The Go-Go’s, Carole King, Todd Rundgren and Tina Turner.
According Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame’s chairman, John Sykes, this years celebration is unique in the number of inductees outside the performer’s categories. In the past ceremonies traditionally celebrate two or three inductees, while 2021 will celebrate seven.
Sykes said,“That’s because we’ve really created, for the first time this year, special committees that actually nominate and induct artists. These are very diverse committees that actually include artists themselves like [Run-DMC’s] Darryl McDaniels, Little Steven, and Tom Morello.”
While this year has marked the most diverse class in the history of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and honouring “the artists that have created not only rock & roll, but the sound of youth culture”, while there are many celebrating, in particular, The Go-Go’s, it has naturally meant that there are those questioning the decisions made.
And one of those people is Hall Of Fame inductee, Gene Simmons – he took to Twitter to share his disapproval of the Hall Of Fame and in particular that Iron Maiden were not inducted. He wrote, “RR Hall of Fame is a sham not to include Maiden. Disgusting!”
According to Blabbermouth, Iron Maiden were on the ballot for this year, of course being eligible as they ticked the box of having their first single or album released in 1995 or earlier. Not only that, since then they’ve released fifteen full-length studio albums, selling over 100 million copies. However while all that may be true, they didn’t receive enough votes to make the esteemed Rock Hall.
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In the past, Maiden members have expressed their disinterested in being inducted in the the Hall of Fame, so do you think Simmons’ snub call is fair? Have Iron Maiden been snubbed?
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