Paul Di’Anno, the powerful heavy metal singer best known for his early work with Iron Maiden, has passed away at the age of 66. Di’Anno died at his home in Salisbury, England, after battling a series of health problems in recent years. His label, Conquest Music, confirmed the news, stating: “Despite being troubled by severe health issues that often confined him to a wheelchair, Paul continued to perform for his fans, delivering over 100 shows since 2023.”

Born as Paul Andrews in Chingford, East London on May 17, 1958, Di’Anno emerged from humble beginnings to become a significant figure in heavy metal. His father, originally from Brazil, and his British mother supported his musical aspirations despite his turbulent youth. He found his voice in the gritty music scene of the late 1970s and eventually crossed paths with the fledgling Iron Maiden, who at the time were searching for a charismatic frontman to replace previous singers.

Joining Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden was formed by bassist Steve Harris in 1975, and by the time Di’Anno joined the band in November 1978, they had already been through several vocalists. Though initially skeptical, Di’Anno quickly realized there was something special about the group's sound and the chemistry clicked. “Their old singer had this silly sword and fake blood dripping from his mouth and me and my mate were pissing ourselves laughing,” Di’Anno recalled in a later interview. “But when we started playing together, it just seemed to gel.”

With Di’Anno at the helm, Iron Maiden began to build a reputation for their raw energy and blistering performances. His aggressive and gritty voice became a perfect match for the band’s early sound, characterized by a mixture of punk intensity and heavy metal. Di’Anno’s vocals were front and center on Iron Maiden’s self-titled debut album, released in 1980. The album peaked at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart, fueled by tracks like “Running Free” and “Phantom of the Opera.” His voice, a blend of raunchy aggression and melodic strength, provided the band with an edge that resonated with a growing fanbase.

Di’Anno continued to front the band on their follow-up album, Killers, released in 1981. With songs such as “Wrathchild” and “Murders in the Rue Morgue,” Killers expanded on the band’s raw aesthetic, showcasing both Di’Anno’s vocal range and the group's evolving musicianship. The albums, now regarded as iconic entries in the heavy metal genre, set Iron Maiden on a path to becoming one of the biggest bands in the world.

Departing from Iron Maiden
Despite the early success, Di’Anno’s time with Iron Maiden was marked by personal struggles and tensions within the band. By his own admission, he had developed a lifestyle that was hard to sustain. "It wasn’t just that I was snorting a bit of coke… I was just going for it non-stop, 24 hours a day, every day,” he later revealed. His substance use, combined with clashes with band members, particularly Steve Harris, ultimately led to his dismissal in late 1981, just after the Killers world tour.

Di’Anno’s departure from Iron Maiden paved the way for Bruce Dickinson to join the band. Dickinson’s operatic and theatrical approach brought a different dynamic, helping Iron Maiden achieve even greater success. Despite the band moving on to higher heights, Di’Anno's contribution during those formative years remained significant, as acknowledged by Iron Maiden in a statement following his death: “Paul’s contribution to Iron Maiden was immense and helped set us on the path we have been traveling as a band for almost five decades.”

Life After Maiden
Following his exit from Iron Maiden, Di’Anno embarked on a new musical journey, though his career was often plagued by personal issues and controversies. He launched several projects, beginning with a self-titled solo endeavor and a brief stint in a supergroup named Gogmagog, featuring former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr and guitarist Janick Gers, who would later join Maiden.

His most successful post-Maiden project came in the form of Battlezone, a band he formed in 1985. Battlezone released two studio albums, Fighting Back (1986) and Children of Madness (1987), which showcased Di’Anno’s powerful vocal abilities. The band toured extensively, gaining a loyal following, although the lineup went through numerous changes, which eventually led to the group’s disbandment.

In the 1990s, Di’Anno attempted to revive his career with another band, Killers, named after Iron Maiden's second album. With Killers, he recorded two albums, Murder One (1992) and Menace to Society (1994), which leaned towards a heavier, thrash-influenced sound. The records, though moderately successful, failed to capture the same level of acclaim as his work with Iron Maiden. Nonetheless, Di’Anno continued to tour and record throughout the decade, even fronting the British rock band Praying Mantis for a short time.

Struggles and Legal Issues
Di’Anno’s life away from the stage was marred by several legal and health problems. In the early 1990s, he was jailed in the United States after a domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend. Reflecting on the episode years later, he said, “My biggest regrets are those domestic violence incidents in my past. I’m really ashamed of them. But then jail was the thing that eventually made me start to sort my life out, so there was some good in it.” He also faced legal issues related to drugs and firearms, resulting in further jail time and a ban from touring in the U.S. for a number of years.

His health took a significant toll as well, with knee injuries from a motorcycle accident and years of performing leading to multiple surgeries. By the mid-2010s, he was largely confined to a wheelchair due to complications from sepsis, which kept him hospitalized for eight months in 2015. Despite these setbacks, Di’Anno remained passionate about music, often performing seated at shows and refusing to retire completely.

A Continued Legacy
Di’Anno’s persistence paid off, as he continued to perform, gaining a new wave of appreciation from metal fans who admired his resilience. He toured across Europe, South America, and Japan, performing both Iron Maiden classics and songs from his solo career. In 2022, he reunited with Bruce Dickinson in Croatia, where Di’Anno had been undergoing medical treatment. The meeting dispelled long-standing rumors of a feud between the two singers. “We gave each other a hug, shook hands, and had a little chat,” Di’Anno shared in an interview, dismissing claims that the pair had ever harbored any significant animosity.

His final years saw a surge in creative output, including a retrospective compilation, The Book of the Beast, released in September 2024, featuring songs from across his career. He also collaborated on a new project called Warhorse, whose debut album was released in mid-2024. Warhorse was a testament to Di’Anno’s enduring love for heavy metal, showcasing the kind of hard-hitting music that defined his legacy.

Iron Maiden’s Tribute and the Impact on Heavy Metal
Iron Maiden's tribute to Di’Anno highlighted the singer’s pivotal role in the band’s history: “His pioneering presence as a frontman and vocalist, both onstage and on our first two albums, will be very fondly remembered not just by us, but by fans around the world.” Band founder Steve Harris spoke warmly about Di’Anno in a personal statement, recalling their shared passion for football and how they stayed in touch through the years. “I was in touch with him only recently as we texted each other about West Ham and their ups and downs,” Harris said. “He will be missed by us all. Rest in peace, mate.”

Di’Anno’s influence extends beyond Iron Maiden’s early days. His raw, unpolished style inspired a generation of metal vocalists who saw in him a different kind of frontman—one who brought the streetwise swagger of punk to heavy metal’s burgeoning scene. While his career after Iron Maiden may not have reached the same heights, his voice on those first two albums remains iconic. Songs like “Sanctuary,” “Prowler,” and “Running Free” capture a young, hungry band, with Di’Anno’s ferocity driving the music forward. His performances on tracks such as “Remember Tomorrow” and “Phantom of the Opera” showcased his ability to blend aggression with melody, setting a blueprint for what would become the band's signature style.

Remembering Paul Di’Anno
As the world of heavy metal mourns the loss of Paul Di’Anno, his contributions to the genre are more evident than ever. He was a pioneer who embraced both the chaotic energy of punk and the powerful aesthetics of metal, leaving an indelible mark on Iron Maiden’s history and on the broader landscape of rock music. His voice, filled with grit and passion, will continue to resonate with fans who remember those early Maiden records as more than just albums, but as milestones in metal's evolution.

Di’Anno’s journey was marked by peaks and valleys, but his commitment to his art remained unwavering. Whether fronting Iron Maiden, leading Battlezone, or simply engaging with fans from a wheelchair, he exemplified the spirit of heavy metal: to persevere despite adversity and always stay true to one

Paul Di’Anno's iconic voice on Iron Maiden's first two albums laid the foundation for a legendary metal career.