S.L.R. Magazine

2026 Metal Hall Of Fame on January 21st, 2026, by Don Adkins

The 9thannual Metal Hall Of Fame took place last week in Hollywood. This year’s event took place on the Sunset Strip which for decades has been the epicenter for a lot a great music. The Rainbow Bar and Grill, a gathering place for so many of the rock community served as the venue for the…

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The 9thannual Metal Hall Of Fame took place last week in Hollywood. This year’s event took place on the Sunset Strip which for decades has been the epicenter for a lot a great music.

Event poster for the Metal Hall of Fame Sunset Strip Blowout Bash, featuring details about the event on January 21, 2026, at three iconic venues: Rainbow, The Roxy Theatre, and The Viper Room.

The Rainbow Bar and Grill, a gathering place for so many of the rock community served as the venue for the Red Carpet while next door The Roxy afterwards hosted the 2026 annual awards show and concert event. The Rainbow is already usually buzzing with rockers but this evening it all stepped up a notch with a lot of music, a veritable who’s who for which so many in attendance also graced the stage for performances in addition to the awards. Honorees this year included:

  • Warren DiMartini – Ratt and Pearcy/DiMartini
  • Tracii Guns – L.A. Guns and Guns & Roses co-founder
  • Chris Holmes – WASP
  • Gilby Clarke – Guns & Roses
  • Rikki Rockett – Poison

   In the case of Rikki Rockett his award was supposed to have happened in 2025 but on that evening he spent the night dealing with potential evacuation during the LA Wildfires — fortunately he was spared. I’ve always noted that the worlds of Prog Metal and Metal seem to be most like family and this night was no exception as so many turned out just for the camaraderie of their fellow metalheads, many of who we would also see the following 3 days at the annual NAMM show in Anaheim, also covered separately by SLR Magazine.

The evening was the usual mix of the veterans and newer era music artists which included performances by inductees and special guests performing the music of Rainbow, Ratt, Poison an Ozzy tribute along with a tribute to Ace Frehley and much more.

Unlike so many other award shows the public can purchase tickets and get up close and personal with many great hard rock and metal artists. The following gallery provides a snippet of the happenings from this year’s event.

The Metal Hall Of Fame web site

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Written and Photography all rights reserved by Don Adkins https://www.instagram.com/donadkinsphoto/

A live band performing on stage with dramatic lighting, featuring four musicians: one vocalist, a guitarist, a bassist, and a second guitarist. The backdrop displays the text 'Metal Hall of Fame'.
Tracii Guns and Sam Bam Koltun on stage, smiling and holding a microphone, with guitar amplifiers in the background.
A singer in a black shirt and cowboy hat passionately performing on stage, holding a microphone with a guitar player in the background.
A live rock band performing on stage, featuring a bassist in a black hat and sunglasses, with other band members visible playing guitar and drums in a colorful, illuminated setting.
Musician performing live on stage, playing a black bass guitar while wearing a hat and sunglasses.
Close-up of a male singer passionately performing on stage with long dark hair, wearing a black outfit and a necklace, set against a colorful background.
Musician playing guitar on stage, with long dark hair and a focused expression.
Two musicians performing on stage with instruments, one on bass guitar and the other on electric guitar, in a vibrant concert setting.
Carlos Cavazo inducts Warren DiMartini during a live performance, with Cavazo holding a wooden plaque and speaking into a microphone.
A musician passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, with their head tilted back and eyes closed, illuminated by colorful stage lights.
Two male musicians performing on stage, singing together under colorful stage lights.
Two musicians performing on stage, focused on playing electric guitars under purple and red stage lights.
Two musicians on stage, one with long hair and a denim shirt, the other wearing a black graphic t-shirt, engaging with each other in front of amplifiers and stage lights.
A man with long hair and tattoos holding an award while speaking into a microphone on stage, with audience members applauding in the background.
A man speaking into a microphone on stage with dramatic red lighting in the background.
A man with long blonde hair and a leather jacket makes a hand gesture associated with rock music, standing in front of a background featuring logos for the Metal Hall of Fame and Monster Energy.
Two individuals posing together at the Metal Hall of Fame event, wearing leather jackets and rock-themed t-shirts. One is giving a thumbs-up.
Two individuals posing for a photo at an event, one wearing sunglasses and a hat, and the other holding a cocktail, with a promotional backdrop featuring sponsors.
A smiling woman with long, light-colored hair, wearing a black outfit, stands in front of a backdrop featuring logos for the Metal Hall of Fame and various sponsors.
Three men posing together at the Metal Hall of Fame event, dressed in sunglasses and stylish outfits, standing in front of a branded backdrop with logos.
Four members of a rock band posing confidently in front of a promotional backdrop for the Metal Hall of Fame event.
Crowd gathered at the red carpet area next to the Rainbow Bar & Grill, featuring a large number of people and photographers in an evening setting.
A smiling person wearing a red leather jacket adorned with various writings and jewelry, standing in front of a backdrop featuring logos for 'Metal Hall of Fame' and 'Monster Energy'. They are making a peace sign with their fingers.
A woman with dark hair and striking makeup poses on the red carpet, wearing a spiked leather jacket and a black graphic t-shirt. The background features logos for various events.
A man with long blonde hair wearing a gray shirt that says 'Mocame Since 1948' poses with a hand gesture at a Metal Hall of Fame event backdrop.
A man with long black hair wearing a leather jacket and multiple rings, smiling and holding a red lollipop in front of a backdrop promoting the AMA Supercross Championship and a charity event for drum therapy.
Three musicians posed together at an event, wearing rock-themed attire against a backdrop featuring logos of sponsors and the Metal Hall of Fame.
Marquee sign of The Roxy Theater announcing 'Metal Hall of Fame Blowout Bash 2026' event.
A singer passionately performing with a microphone on stage, illuminated by colorful stage lights.
Close-up of a man with short hair and a slight smile, standing on stage with a microphone in the background, illuminated by colorful stage lights.
A male singer passionately performing on stage, holding a microphone close to his mouth, with long hair and wearing a black shirt.
A guitarist with long hair playing an orange electric guitar on stage, focused on his performance.
Man speaking into a microphone while holding an award, wearing a leather jacket, with long blonde hair.
Eddie Trunk speaking into a microphone on stage alongside Warren DiMartini, who holds a red electric guitar.

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