The first lead singer of Iron Maiden has died at the age of 66, leaving a significant legacy in the heavy metal music scene.
The music world is mourning the loss of Paul Di’Anno, the original vocalist for Iron Maiden. He passed away at his home in Salisbury, according to a statement from his label, Conquest Music.
Steve Harris, Clive Burr, Paul Di’Anno, Adrian Smith, and Dave Murray in an Iron Maiden promotional portrait in 1981 | Source: Getty Images
Paul Andrews, born in Chingford, East London, on May 17, 1958, gained initial recognition as the frontman for Iron Maiden from 1978 to 1981. He later adopted the stage name “Paul Di’Anno.” His powerful voice helped define the band’s early sound on their debut album “Iron Maiden” and the follow-up “Killers,” both considered influential releases in heavy metal.
After leaving Iron Maiden, Di’Anno continued his musical journey, recording with bands like Battlezone and Killers and embarking on numerous solo projects.
Paul Di’Anno, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith performing live onstage on Iron Maiden’s Killer World Tour in 1981 | Source: Getty Images
His later career was guided by Conquest Music, the label that announced his passing on behalf of his family. Despite his declining health in recent years, the musician remained active, performing over 100 shows since 2023, even though he had to use a wheelchair.
In September 2024, Di’Anno released “The Book of the Beast,” a career retrospective album that featured highlights of his post-Iron Maiden recordings. Conquest Music praised his dedication to his fans and expressed pride in having him as part of their artist family, asking fans to “raise a glass in his memory.”
Di’Anno is only the latest musician who has died unexpectedly. Just last week, Liam Payne lost his life in a tragic fall. Following the announcement of the vocalist’s death, Iron Maiden released their own heartfelt tribute.
The band shared their sadness over his passing, “Paul’s contribution to Iron Maiden was immense and helped set us on the path we have been travelling as a band for almost five decades. His pioneering presence as a frontman and vocalist, both on stage and on our first two albums, will be very fondly remembered not just by us, but by fans around the world.”
The tribute also included a statement from Iron Maiden’s bassist, Steve Harris, expressing his sadness. Harris shared that he had been in recent contact with Di’Anno, discussing their shared interest in the West Ham football team. He acknowledged Di’Anno’s dedication to performing, even amidst health challenges, and emphasized how much he would be missed.
Meanwhile, photographer Ross Halfin also paid tribute to Di’Anno, remembering their early days. “It really is a strange world. I hadn’t seen Paul in many years, but that early period of Iron Maiden is so classic and my memories are extremely fond. There was a great innocence around that period as we were all starting out at the same time,” he wrote.
Fans of Di’Anno also took to social media to express their condolences, with many sharing their fond memories and admiration for the late singer. One fan wrote, “You were born a fighter, but you couldn’t win this battle. Rest in peace. Paul Di Anno. 17 May 1958 – 21 October 2024.”
Another fan recalled their memories of seeing Di’Anno perform. “RIP Paul Di’Anno. 1958 – 2024. Saw him with Maiden when they were supporting Priest back in ’80. Saw him with them again on their first major headline tour promoting the debut album. Very sad, especially as he recently had new music out and more coming,” they added.
Our sincere condolences go out to Di’Anno’s family and all those who loved him.
