Former Iron Maiden lead singer Paul Di’Anno has died
Paul Di’Anno, the one-time lead singer of Iron Maiden has died at the age of 66. He’d been in poor health for some time, performing whilst in a wheelchair, a relic of some knee issues.
Before Bruce Dickinson became the lead singer of Iron Maiden, there was Paul Day (the original frontman from 1975-1978) and then Paul Di’Anno. He was hired in 1978 when the band was looking for someone willing to take on a tough touring schedule. That came to an end in 1981 when he was fired.
Born Paul Andrews (Di’Anno was a stage name chosen because he wanted people to think he was Italian), he was with the group through their self-titled album in 1980, the Killers record from 1981, and a live EP, Maiden Japan.
I first heard Paul in the very early 80s through this song.
He went on to perform in several other bands (Di’Anno, Gogmagog, Battlezone, Praying Mantis, Killers, Nomad, RockFellas, Architects of Chaos) none of which reached anywhere near the heights of Maiden. Most of his income probably came from running an internet cafe and a hotel/restaurant.
Di’Anno’s life was…colourful. He was once convicted on eight counts of fraud after claiming £45,000 in benefits that he wasn’t owed, spending spending two months of a nine-month sentence in jail. He flirted with Islam, but also sometimes claimed to be Christian, Jewish, and part Australian Aboriginal. He was married five times and has six kids.
By the time COVID hit, Di’Anno was already in poor health and struggling financially. He needed a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for knee surgery and then moved to Croatia to receive treatment. Iron Maiden paid for part of that. Around this time, he recorded a new album with his band Warhorse, in the city of Split.
But those health issues–including lymphedema (a chronic condition that causes swelling in the body’s tissues as the result of a compromised lymphatic system) caught up with him and he died at his home in Salisbury, England, on October 21. He was 66.
Iron Maiden were very classy in their respect for Paul D. I remember that first album, it was great in a great time before the internet, and when Dickinson came around, it was clear he was a stronger vocalist, but Paul D, was great on his Iron Maiden albums, Running Free is one of my favorites.