Paul Di’Anno, the original lead singer of Iron Maiden, passed away on Monday at the age of 66. His family and his record label, Conquest Music, confirmed his death in a statement shared on his official Facebook page. The cause of death has not been disclosed, but Di’Anno had faced numerous health challenges over the years, including a weakened immune system following a bout of sepsis nine years ago. After undergoing knee surgery in 2022, he had been performing in a wheelchair and participated in over 100 shows this year.
Conquest Music expressed pride in having Di’Anno as part of their artist family and encouraged his fans to commemorate him with a toast. The record label has not yet responded to requests for further comments.
Iron Maiden released a heartfelt statement reflecting their sadness over Di’Anno’s passing. It emphasized his significant impact on the band during its early years and remembered him as a pioneering frontman and vocalist. The band shared a photo of Di’Anno with bassist Steve Harris taken during their Legacy of the Beast world tour in May 2022, recalling their recent time spent together.
Harris noted the painful loss, sharing that he had recently been in touch with Di’Anno regarding their shared support for West Ham United. He remarked on Di’Anno’s resilience in continuing to perform until recently, emphasizing how much he would be missed.
Paul Di’Anno, born Paul Andrews on May 17, 1958, in Chingford, East London, was a key member of Iron Maiden from 1978 until 1981. During this time, he recorded the band’s self-titled debut album and its follow-up, “Killers.” Following his departure, Bruce Dickinson took over as the lead vocalist. Di’Anno later fronted several other bands, including Killers, Battlezone, and Warhorse.
In September, he released an album titled “The Book of the Beast,” featuring his favorite songs recorded since leaving Iron Maiden. This album included contributions from notable artists such as Tony Martin of Black Sabbath and ZP Theart of Dragonforce.
This year, Di’Anno also announced that he would continue to perform, but only at select festivals and theaters that were accessible for wheelchairs. He expressed his gratitude towards Iron Maiden for assisting with his medical expenses in the months leading up to his passing.