Former Iron Maiden guitarist Dennis Stratton has reacted to his band and Foo Fighters losing handily to Fela Kuti, Tina Turner, and The Go-Go’s in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame fan vote.
He was asked by the Uncle Steve’s Iron Maiden Zone podcast about former singer Blaze Bayley being snubbed from Iron Maiden’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame eligible to be inducted members, “Well, when I first heard that he wasn’t included, I was a bit shocked and a bit… I don’t know. It was weird. Why? Why wasn’t he? Now, I know for a fact he was with them for five years and two albums, and he contributed a hell of a lot to them two albums. But people told me that it’s something to do with the committee that run this Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. It has to be certain years, involved with so many years. So I don’t actually know. Someone would have to read the rules to me. But I definitely think it’s heartbreaking not to be included.”
Despite this, he said it is a great ‘honor’ of his career to be nominated for the Rock Hall.
“Now, I didn’t know Bruce had said anything [negative] about the Hall Of Fame. Someone told me that he had said a few things about the Hall Of Fame. I don’t know what he said. But I know that he said something. Now, personally for me, I was blowing my own trumpet, saying, ‘Please vote.’ ‘Cause this is a big honor for me; it means the world to me. But I’m not speaking for the band; this is me personally. Now, if the band and the management don’t fancy it or it’s not their scene and they’re not interested, then so be it. You have to respect the band or the management’s decision.
I’ve watched the [fan] voting on my phone, and I see the voting, which is from Tina Turner and the top one — I don’t know who that is — and the Foo Fighters, the voting is quite mediocre. Now, I know for a fact that I can talk personally for me, not for Maiden, but the amount of fans in this world — not only South America — the amount of fans in the world, if they voted for Iron Maiden, that wouldn’t be hundreds of thousands, that would be millions. And Maiden would [win the fan vote] — they would [win] it without a problem.
But because [Maiden has] stayed quiet [about it and not publicized the nomination], if it’s not their scene, then you have to respect the management, respect the band and say, ‘Good luck to you guys.’ And if they’re not interested, then so be it. But for me, it is a big honor. And that’s what you have to go along with.”
