Machine Head awarded keys to the city of Albuquerque by America’s most metal mayor
Machine Head say they’re “extremely honoured” after being presented with keys to the city of Albuquerque by Mayor Tim Keller, who jokingly told the band the keys belonged to the city jail. The Oakland groove metal band passed through the New Mexico city on Monday, June 23, as part of their ongoing North American tour supporting metalcore stars Killswitch Engage. The band met Keller, known as the “Metal Mayor” for his love of the genre, along with his brother Scott, ahead of the show.
In an Instagram post, Machine Head wrote: “We’re extremely honoured to have been presented with keys to the Albuquerque City Jail yesterday by @mayorkeller and his brother, Scott!”
Keller, a Democrat, is the 30th mayor of Albuquerque and the first in the city’s history to serve three consecutive terms, having taken office in 2017 and been re-elected in 2021 and 2025. His love of metal was the focal point of a 2018 New York Times profile, which reported that he’d been spotted at local Anthrax shows and once introduced Trivium onstage at the Sunshine Theater. In 2022, US band Soulfly posted a photo of Keller wearing one of the band’s shirts as he went to vote in the midterm elections. From 2024 to 2025, he also gave keys to the city to Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson, members of Testament, Soulfly and ex-Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera, and members of Judas Priest. He has also officially declared September 19 as Iron Maiden Day.
In a 2018 interview with Riot Fest, Keller called metal “part of the background of my daily life, ” saying he listens to the genre at least four hours a day, and noted that his openness about the passion hasn’t affected his political career much. Keller is a longtime Machine Head fan, having discovered the band’s 1994 debut album “Burn My Eyes” through word of mouth while in school.
The band’s tour continues tonight, June 25, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Machine Head will headline the Rockfest and Inkcarceration festivals in the US next month, before playing another leg of North American Killswitch Engage support shows in August.
