Only Joining On One Album, Ex-Iron Maiden Guitarist Surprised To Enter The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

Dennis Stratton dan Steve Harris (Instagram @dennis.stratton)

JAKARTA - For the first time, Iron Maiden has been nominated into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Dennis Stratton, the guitarist who only played on the self-titled debut album (1980) was surprised to have his name included.

Meanwhile, only one member of Iron Maiden's professional record line-up throughout their 40-year history was left out. This is Blaze Bayley.

Stratton, who currently plays guitar in the band Lionheart (originally active from 1980-1986, reuniting in 2016) was interviewed on TotalRock's "Neil Jones Rock Show" following the announcement of the Rock Hall nominations for the 2021 edition. Apart from Maiden there are also names like Foo Fighters , Rage against The Machine, New York Dolls and others.

"First reaction, I have to be honest with you, I thought, 'my name won't come in.' Funny enough, I got a message on Lionheart's group message from [the person] who did all our album artwork and he said to me, ' Have you looked online? You've been nominated with a band, '"said Stratton, who first joined Maiden in 1979.

Startton's tenure at Iron maiden was short-lived. He left in October 1980 and was replaced by Adrian Smith, who was certainly among the band's nominees, as well as founding bassist Steve Harris, singers Bruce Dickinson and Paul Di'Anno, guitarists Dave Murray and Janick Gers and drummers Clive Burr and Nicko McBrain.

Blaze Bayley, who replaced Dickinson from 1994 to 1999 and sang on the albums The X Factor and Virtual XI, is the only member of the Iron Maiden record line-up not to receive a Hall nomination.

"I've never had much luck with Maiden," complained Stratton, "and certain things that have been going on over the years, like the gold disc from the first album ... I never really got what I should have received."

Stratton also emphasized that he and Harris still communicate frequently, usually about the West Ham United football team (Harris always puts the team crest on his bass).

Regarding Rock Hall's decision not to include Bayley, Stratton commented, "I noticed that after that I went to Facebook ... and when I saw it, I thought, 'Well, it must depend on the organizer of this event.' But when I found out it involved certain years, they had to draw a line somewhere, right? They made the rules, so I didn't know. "