Tom Morello Calls Jane’s Addiction More Influential Than Nirvana

In his speech for Jane's Addiction's induction into the RockWalk last week, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello declared that the band had a greater impact than Nirvana did on alternative-rock music. He also called Jane's a "punk rock Led Zeppelin."

"Nirvana often gets credit for being the first 'alternative' band to break through, the band that changed music and led rock out of the hair metal wilderness of the ‘80’s," said Morello during the June 1 ceremony at Guitar Center in Hollywood, Calif. "That’s just not true. It was Jane’s Addiction. Inspiring, intelligent, furiously rocking and artistically deep as f---."

Morello also recalled the first time he heard Jane's Addiction's music in the late '80s. "I had never heard anything like it," he remembered. "It was like a punk rock Led Zeppelin. Jane’s provided all the testosterone fueled guitar riffage that my suburban upbringing required, but mixed it with gorgeous acoustic songs and an underground artistry that was completely original and completely awesome."

Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, who was inducted alongside singer Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins, also made a reference to Led Zeppelin when talking about the honor.

"When I first heard we were going to be honored here at the RockWalk, I thought of coming here 10-plus years ago to witness Jimmy Page's induction," Navarro explained to Spinner. "And just to be uttered in the same breath as Led Zeppelin is an honor enough, but now to be permanently embedded in cement beside one of my hugest influences is probably one of those dreams coming true that you didn't know you had."

Jane's Addiction are set to release their next disc, 'The Great Escape Artist,' in August. The album has been preceded by the single 'End to the Lies.'

Watch Video Footage of Jane's Addiction's RockWalk Induction