Tom Morello, the iconic guitarist of Rage Against the Machine, has made it clear: Iron Maiden deserves their place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The 60-year-old rocker, who has long championed the cause of metal music, shared his impassioned thoughts on the matter during an appearance on The Eddie Trunk Podcast.
“I will chew my leg off like a coyote in a trap if I can’t get Iron Maiden in,” Morello said, his voice firm with conviction. “While there are plenty of deserving acts, Iron Maiden is, for me, the last and most egregious oversight in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.”
Morello’s words carry weight in the music community, especially as the legendary heavy metal band has been eligible for induction since 2005. Despite being considered twice, Iron Maiden has yet to be voted in by the Rock Hall voters, a glaring omission that many metal fans, including Morello, see as a travesty.
Iron Maiden’s influence on heavy metal is undeniable. Morello, who has often cited the band as one of his primary inspirations, is not alone in his support. He passionately continues, “Iron Maiden is the gold standard of metal bands. How is it possible that they’re not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?” He acknowledged that frontman Bruce Dickinson has previously downplayed the Hall of Fame’s significance, but Morello is steadfast in his own belief. “I know Bruce doesn’t care, but I care—very much so. I’m going to do whatever I can to get them in with whatever limited influence I have,” he added.
Although Morello is determined to see Iron Maiden inducted, there’s a notable complication: Iron Maiden might not want in. The band has long been outspoken about their disdain for the institution. Bruce Dickinson, the band’s charismatic frontman, has famously rejected the notion of being inducted. In a 2018 interview with The Jerusalem Post, Dickinson voiced his strong opinions about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, saying, “I’m really happy we’re not there and I would never want to be there. If we’re ever inducted, I will refuse – they won’t bloody be having my corpse in there.”
For Dickinson, the Hall of Fame represents everything that rock ‘n’ roll is not. “Rock & roll music does not belong in a mausoleum in Cleveland. It’s a living, breathing thing, and if you put it in a museum, then it’s dead. It’s worse than horrible, it’s vulgar,” he said.
Despite his strong objections, Morello remains undeterred. He’s vocal about his belief that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame needs to change its perspective. “Rock and roll is alive,” Morello insists, “and Iron Maiden is one of its greatest living legends.”
Iron Maiden’s story took a somber turn recently with the death of their original lead vocalist, Paul Di’Anno. On October 21, Di’Anno passed away, and his death was later confirmed to be from a tear in the sac around his heart, which led to his heart stopping. His family shared the news on Facebook on November 11, paying tribute to a man whose early contributions to the band helped lay the groundwork for their eventual global success.
In response to Di’Anno’s passing, Iron Maiden issued a heartfelt statement. “We are all deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Paul Di’Anno. Paul’s contribution to Iron Maiden was immense and helped set us on the path we have been travelling for almost five decades. His pioneering presence as a frontman and vocalist will be very fondly remembered,” they wrote.
Di’Anno’s vocals were integral to the band’s early sound, particularly on their self-titled debut album and the follow-up Killers. His distinctive voice and rebellious energy helped establish Iron Maiden as one of the most important bands in metal. Despite his departure from the group in the early 1980s, his legacy with Iron Maiden is lasting, and he remains an iconic figure in the history of the genre.
As Iron Maiden mourns the loss of Di’Anno, Dickinson’s own health battle has taken center stage. In a recent interview with Rich Roll, Dickinson revealed that a cancerous tumor on his tongue nearly ended his career as the band’s frontman. “I was quite prepared to accept that I might not be able to sing with Iron Maiden again,” Dickinson admitted, discussing how his vocal chords were at risk. “But if I couldn’t sing the way I have to sing with Iron Maiden, I would help them find a great replacement,” he said, emphasizing how sacred the band’s music is to him.
Fortunately, Dickinson has recovered, but his health scare underscored how fragile the band’s future could be. He admitted that while his voice is as crucial to Iron Maiden’s identity as its legendary guitar riffs, the music itself must continue to thrive.
Though Iron Maiden has faced significant challenges—loss, health battles, and the ongoing issue of their exclusion from the Hall of Fame—Morello’s fight to get theminducted remains a testament to the band’s enduring power in rock music. Whether or not Dickinson eventually accepts the Hall’s recognition, one thing is certain: Iron Maiden’s legacy in metal is unmatched, and fans like Tom Morello will continue to advocate for them, regardless of the Hall of Fame’s decision.
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