Paul Di’Anno, Former Iron Maiden Vocalist, Dies At 66
Former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di’Anno has died at the age of 66.
While no cause of death has yet been revealed, the news of Di’Anno’s passing was confirmed earlier today (21 October) in a statement by the vocalist’s record label Conquest Music, in which they reflected on his career and asked “his legion of fans to raise a glass in his memory”.
Paul Di’Anno joined the iconic London metal band as their vocalist in 1978 after being introduced to them through drummer Doug Sampson, and sang on their seminal self-titled debut album and 1981 follow-up Killers.
Following his departure from the band in 1981, Di’ Anno released music himself and was involved with various hard rock outfits including Gogmagog, Battlezone, Praying Mantis, and Killers. He continued touring despite struggling with ongoing severe health issues in later life.
Earlier this year, he reflected on his work Iron Maiden with The Metal Voice and said “nobody sounded like us, and it’s great”. Now, several figures from the heavy music world like Slash, Anthrax and Exodus have paid tribute to his iconic vocals and work on their first two albums.
Iron Maiden wrote on on X/Twitter that Di’Anno’s contributions to their early sound “helped set us on the path we have been travelling as a band for almost five decades,” and added that his “pioneering presence” would be “fondly remembered not just by us, but by fans around the world.”
“It’s just so sad he’s gone,” Steve Harris continued in the post. “I was in touch with him only recently as we texted each other about West Ham and their ups and downs. At least he was still gigging until recently, it was something that kept him going, to be out there whenever he could. He will be missed by us all. Rest in peace mate.”
They concluded by noting they were “grateful to have had the chance to catch up a couple of years ago” and extended their deepest sympathies to Paul’s family and close friends.
Additionally, former Iron Maiden vocalist Blaze Bayley reflected on the tours they embarked on together, saying “his voice & his music with Iron Maiden & his own projects will live on”, while Michael Paulsen of Danish metal outfit Volbeat recalled his “amazingly unique punkish voice” and said “a legend has said goodbye but what he left behind will live on forever”.