Key takeaways: Metallica members Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo, St. Vincent, Brad Wilk and John 5 performed “The Trooper” at Iron Maiden’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. Performance: St. Vincent sang lead vocals, with help from Jack Black. Absence: Iron Maiden members did not attend because the band was touring in Australia around the ceremony. Broadcast: The ceremony was scheduled to air on ABC on Dec. 8 and stream on Disney+ and Hulu the following day.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame performance: St. Vincent, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo of Metallica, Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine and John 5 of Motley Crue honored heavy metal legends Iron Maiden at the band’s induction ceremony.
The musicians performed “The Trooper” from Iron Maiden’s 1983 album Piece of Mind. St. Vincent sang lead vocals, with help from Jack Black.
No members of Iron Maiden attended the ceremony.
Why Didn’t Iron Maiden Attend Their Induction?
Iron Maiden was touring in Australia, with concerts scheduled for both the day before and the day after the induction. A few weeks after the 2026 nominees were announced, the band’s manager, Rod Smallwood, issued a statement on the band’s behalf.
Iron Maiden’s statement thanked the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for including the band and former members in the 2026 class of inductees. The band also said that its relationship with fans mattered more than awards, while acknowledging that industry recognition was welcome.
READ MORE: Underrated Iron Maiden: The Most Overlooked Song From Each Album
The ceremony was scheduled to take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The program was not livestreamed; it was set to air on ABC on Dec. 8 from 8–11 p.m. EST and become available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu the following day.
How Are Iron Maiden’s Albums Ranked?
Iron Maiden’s album history stands out for the band’s success despite changing lead singers on three separate occasions.
Gallery Credit: Eduardo Rivadavia
