For Alice Cooper, the Iron Maiden must be in Rock Hall

During a session of questions and answers on Rock Legends Cruise last month, the legend of rock Alice Cooper, inserted in the rock and roll Hall of Fame in 2011, commented on the candidacy of the Bad Company for the 2025 class of the Hall of Fame. In commenting on the candidates to be included in the “Olympus of rock”, the Detroit artist has therefore shared opinions on the failure to insert the Iron Maiden and the admission of artists also distant from the rock genre.

“In the sector we call (the singer of Bad Company) Paul Rodgers ‘La Voce’, because he is simply one of the best singers in circulation and one of the kindest people ever. He had some health problems recently, but I certainly voted for him, “said Alice laughing, referring to the fact that all the artists already included in the Rock Hall become voters for future classes. When asked if there are other artists who would like to push for insertion into the rock and roll hall of Fame, Cooper replied: “Iron Maiden. Do I mean, come on, how do you ignore the Iron Maiden? They have a real army of fans. And another name I would make is that of Burt Bacharach. He wrote as many hits as well as the Beatles and is not in the Hall of Fame, while there are other authors who have been inserted without even remotely having his level. So I would definitely say Burt Bacharach ”.

In the Corao of the chat, the voice of “Poison”, commented the fact that in recent years the Rock Hall has expanded its horizons including rap artists such as the late Tupac Shakur and the NWAs this choice has aroused criticism by many fans and musicians, contrary to the inclusion of hip-hop artists-and other non-rock genres-in the rock and roll hall of Fame.

“It is really difficult for me to see someone like Missy Elliott next to the Who,” Alice Cooper admitted: “They are two completely different worlds. But, as you said, it’s a lifestyle. Count really those who brought something new to the scene. If someone had an impact that did not have before, then it makes sense that it is there. For this reason ‘particular’ names are seen in the Hall of Fame. At the beginning I thought it like you: ‘come on, there should be only rock band – this is rock’. But then I changed a little perspective. Dolly Pardon also said: ‘I don’t belong to the rock and roll hall of hunger’. He wondered: ‘What do I do in the rock and roll hall of hunger?’. But then he made a rock disc. Nobody disputes him, but I would prefer to see the Iron Maiden in there before some of these names. Joe Cocker would also deserve a place. He had my vote this year. “

The band of “The Number of the Beast” is eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2004, but have been appointed only twice, in 2021 and 2023, but without success. According to the Hall of Fame, the members of the Iron Maiden who would be inserted would be those of the current formation, composed of the singer Bruce Dickinson, the bassist Steve Harris, the drummer Nicko McBrain and the guitarists Adrian Smith, Dave Murray and Janick Gers, in addition to the former guitarist Dennis Stratton, the former singer Paul of Battery Clive Burr.

Although the artists are eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single, legendary bands of hard rock and metal such as Iron Maiden and Motörhead have not yet been recognized by the institution, which instead inserted the Guns n ‘Roses at their first year of elegibility.