Alice Cooper urges Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to induct Iron Maiden
He believes they should be inducted ahead of non-rock acts
Last updated 17th Mar 2025
Alice Cooper believes that Iron Maiden should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ahead of certain non-rock acts.
The 14-name shortlist for this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was revealed in February with Bad Company, The Black Crowes, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Phish, Soundgarden, The White Stripes, Oasis, Mariah Carey, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast and Maná all vying for induction.
Despite both legendary rock bands celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2025, Iron Maiden and Motörhead didn’t make the Rock Hall’s shortlist.
Maiden have been nominated twice in the past three years but failed to be inducted on both occasions.
They won’t be bothered in the slightest, however, as they’ve lambasted the Rock Hall a number of times, with Bruce Dickinson dismissing it as a “an utter and complete load of b------s” in 2018.
During a question-and-answer session aboard the Rock Legends Cruise, Alice Cooper vouched for Iron Maiden while discussing Bad Company’s nomination.
"In the business, we call Paul (Rodgers) 'the voice', because he's just one of the best singers out there and one of the nicest guys ever. He had some physical problems lately, but I certainly voted for him.”
Asked who he’d like to see in the Rock Hall, Alice replied: "Iron Maiden. I mean, come on — Iron Maiden! How can you dis Iron Maiden? They have their own army out there.”
Reflecting on the Rock Hall’s increasingly musically eclectic inductees, Alice continued: "Yeah, it's really hard for me to put somebody, let's say, like Missy Elliott in with The Who.
"I mean, those are two different worlds. But, like you said, it's a lifestyle. And it's really who brought what to the table. If somebody came in and had an impact that wasn't there before, and that's why you'll see some interesting people in the Hall of Fame. I was like you. I was in there going, 'Come on. It's rock and roll bands — that's what rock is. But then I kind of loosened up that idea.
“Even Dolly Parton said, 'I don't belong in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.' I mean, she's going, 'What am I doing in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?' But then she made a rock record. I don't think anybody begrudges her that, but I would still I would prefer to see an Iron Maiden in there before I would see some of these other ones. Joe Cocker. (He) got my vote too.”
Other rock bands still overlooked by the Rock Hall include Scorpions, Boston, Blue Öyster Cult, Kansas, Jethro Tull and King Crimson.
The final inductees will be announced in April, with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 Induction Ceremony taking place on a yet-to-be-announced date in Cleveland this autumn.
To be eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, artists are required to have released their first record 25 years prior to Induction.
The real names of 100 rock stars, including Alice Cooper:
Cozy Powell’s real name: Colin Trevor Flooks
Alex Lifeson’s real name: Alexandar Živojinović
'Lifeson' is a semi-literal English translation of the Yugoslavian surname Živojinović, which means 'son of life'
Ginger Baker's real name: Peter Edward Baker
John 5’s real name: John William Lowery
Yngwie Malmsteen’s real name: Lars Johann Yngwie Lannerback
Rudy Sarzo’s real name: Rodolfo Maximiliano Sarzo Lavieille Grande Ruiz Payret y Chaumont
Eric Carr's real name: Paul Charles Caravello
Vinnie Vincent’s real name: Vincent John Cusano
Tina Turner’s real name: Anna Mae Bullock
King Diamond’s real name: Kim Bendix Petersen
Joey Tempest's real name: Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson
Michael Monroe’s real name: Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm
Mikkey Dee’s real name: Micael Kiriakos Delaoglou
Jonathan Cain’s real name: Jonathan Leonard Friga
Nikki Sixx's real name: Frank Ferrano
Steven Adler’s real name: Michael Coletti
Axl Rose's real name: William Bruce Rose
Bon Scott's real name: Ronald Belford Scott
Fish’s real name: Derek William Dick
Eddie Vedder's real name: Edward Louis Severson III
Peter Criss’ real name: George Peter John Criscuola
Freddie Mercury's real name: Farrokh Bulsara
Flea's real name: Michael Peter Balzary
Perry Farrell's real name: Perry Bernstein
Geddy Lee’s real name: Gary Lee Weinrib
Mick Mars' real name: Robert Deal
Tré Cool's real name: Frank Edwin Wright III
Courtney Love's real name: Courtney Michelle Harrison
Pat Smear's real name: Georg Albert Ruthenberg
Gene Simmons' real name: Chaim Klein Witz
Spike’s real name: Jonathan Gray
Iggy Pop's real name: James Newell Osterberg, JR.
Alice Cooper's real name: Vincent Damon Furnier
Slash's real name: Saul Hudson
Mike Dirnt's real name: Michael Ryan Pritchard
Ronnie James Dio's real name: Ronald James Padavona
Brody Dalle's real name: Bree Joanna Alice Robinson
Skin's real name: Deborah Anne Dyer
Nicky Wire's real name: Nicholas Jones
Amy Lee's real name: Amy Lynn Hartzler
Bill Wyman's real name: William Perks
Izzy Stradlin's real name: Jeffrey Isbell
Paul Stanley's real name: Stanley Eisen
Vince Neil's real name: Vincent Neil Wharton
Duff McKagan's real name: Michael McKagan
Jack Black’s real name: Thomas Jacob Black
Lemmy's real name: Ian Fraser Kilmister
John Paul Jones' real name: John Baldwin
Joan Jett's real name: Joan Larkin
Eric Clapton's real name: Eric Patrick Clapp
Siouxsie Sioux's real name: Susan Janet Ballion
Rachel Bolan’s real name: James Richard Southworth
David Bowie's real name: David Robert Hayward Stenton Jones
Little Richard's real name: Richard Wayne Penniman
Sid Vicious' real name: John Simon Ritchie
Ace Frehley's real name: Paul Daniel Frehley
Lou Reed's real name: Louis Firbank
Joe Strummer's real name: John Graham Mellor
Marc Bolan's real name: Mark Feld
The Edge's real name: David Howell Evans
Meat Loaf's real name: Marvin Lee Aday
Steven Tyler's real name: Steven Victor Tallarico
Ozzy Osbourne's real name: John Michael Osbourne
Jon Bon Jovi's real name: John Francis Bongiovi
Joey Belladonna’s real name: Joseph Bellardini
Jack White's real name: John Anthony Gillis
Bono's real name: Paul David Hewson
Sting's real name: Gordon Sumner
Billy Idol’s real name: William Michael Albert Broad
Geezer Butler’s real name: Terence Butler
Pat Benatar’s real name: Patricia Mae Giraldo
Bo Diddley’s real name: Ellas McDaniel
Muddy Waters’ real name: McKinley Morganfield
Stevie Nicks’ real name: Stephanie Lynn Nicks
Doro’s real name: Dorothee Pesch
Sebastian Bach’s real name: Sebastian Philip Bierk
Joe Perry’s real name: Joseph Pereira
Jimi Hendrix’s real name: James Marshall Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix)
Zakk Wylde’s real name: Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt
Maynard James Keenan’s real name: James Herbert Keenan
Blaze Bayley’s real name: Bayley Alexander Cooke
Biff Byford's real name: Peter Rodney Byford
M. Shadows' real name: Matthew Charles Sanders
Syd Barrett's real name: Roger Keith Barrett
Chris Jericho's real name: Christopher Keith Irvine
Ginger Wildheart's real name: David Leslie Walls
Paul Di'Anno's real name: Paul Andrews
Phil X’s real name: Theofilos Xenidis
Peter Green’s real name: Peter Allen Greenbaum
Nicko McBrain’s real name: Michael Henry McBrain
Noddy Holder’s real name: Neville John Holder
Steel Panther’s real names
Michael Starr: Ralph Michael Saenz, Satchel: Russell John Parrish, Stix Zadinia: Darren Leader, Spyder: Joe Lester.
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