Tom Morello , guitarist for Rage Against The Machine , gave an interview to Eddie Trunk on Sirius XM radio and stated that he doesn't understand how Iron Maiden hasn't yet been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
"Although there are many other deserving bands, for me Iron Maiden not being [in the Hall of Fame] is an oversight," lamented the musician.
Although the British band is indifferent to the tribute, the musician assured that he intends to induct them into the Hall of Fame as a matter of honor.
“I know Bruce Dickinson said he doesn’t care. Well, I care as a fan. I care a lot. So, I’m going to do everything I can to achieve it, [using] whatever limited influence I have,” he stated.
In addition to praising Iron Maiden, Tom Morello stated that the band's absence from the organization devalues the history of heavy metal.
"Iron Maiden is like the gold standard of metal bands, and they're not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," lamented the musician.
Iron Maiden and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
According to the Hall of Fame, Iron Maiden has been eligible to be part of the museum since 2004. However, 20 years have passed, and the institution still treats the heavy metal icons with disdain, a fact that has angered Bruce Dickinson and his bandmates.
In 2018, Dickinson made strong statements about the institution's indifference towards Maiden: "[The Hall] is run by a bunch of hypocritical Americans who wouldn't know what rock 'n' roll is even if it were right in front of their faces," (via Music Radar ) .
Tom Morello on the Nominating Committee
In 2023, Rage Against The Machine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where Morello is one of the members of the nomination committee.
Regarding the institution's reputation, Tom Morello recalled a conversation he had with Jon Landau Springsteen 's manager and one of the executives at the Hall.
“Many young guitarists have no respect for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because none of their favorite bands are in it. […] The Hall has to be a place where everyone who loves rock wants to be, because their heroes are there. And you don’t have that now.”
The conversation with Landau resulted in Morello being invited to join the organization's nomination committee.
READ ALSO: Tom Morello comments on fans not understanding his music
