Former IRON MAIDEN singer PAUL DI'ANNO dies at the age of 66

On behalf of his family, Conquest music has confirmed the death of Paul Andrewsprofessionally known as Paul Di'Anno.

Paul died at his home in Salisbury, aged 66.

Born on May 17, 1958 in Chingford, East London, Paul He first gained fame as the lead singer of an English heavy metal band Iron Maiden between 1978 and 1981. He sang on their groundbreaking debut album “Iron Maiden” and the influential follow-up publication, “Murderer”.

Since I left Iron Maiden, Paul Di'Anno had a long and eventful career as a musician BATTLEZONE And MURDERER as well as numerous solo releases and guest appearances.

Although he has suffered from serious health problems in recent years that have prevented him from performing in a wheelchair, Paul continued to entertain fans around the world, logging well over 100 shows as of 2023.

His first career retrospective album, “The Book of the Beast”was released in September 2024 and contained highlights of his recordings since his departure Iron Maiden.

In December 2022, Di'Anno spent some time in Split, Croatia recording an album with his new project called WAR HORSE. The band was founded at the beginning of the year by Di'Anno and two guitarists/authors, Mr. Madiraca And Ante “Pupi” Pupačić. The resulting LP would be available in July 2024 at PAUL DI'ANNO'S WAR HORSE Banner.

Less than two months ago, Di'Annowho has worked in a wheelchair for most of the last decade due to serious health problems, spoke about the progress of his treatment, two years after undergoing serious knee surgery in Croatia. He told SDTV – Stonedead Festival: “It’s improving a hell of a lot. The only problem is, and I'm sorry to say, in my own country, the NHS is a piece of shit here (in the UK).” (National Health Service, a comprehensive public health service under government management). I'm completely broken – with lymphedema (a chronic disease that causes swelling in the body's tissues due to a weakened lymphatic system). I arrived here, it's like everything is full of liquid. Two hours with a medical staff over in Croatia, it hasn't gotten that far (back to the UK), they don't even do lymphatic drainage (a gentle massage that targets the lymphatic system, which is just under the skin. Or they wrap you in bandages. We just took them off yesterday and put compression socks on them. All those ducts, you're done, buddy.

Paul also reflected on his recent meeting with the singer who replaced him Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinsonin Croatia. Brucewho was promoting his new solo album, “The Mandrake Project”performed with his solo band on July 13th at Hala Zagreb in Zagreb, where Di'Anno had been undergoing treatment following knee surgery.

Paul said: “(Our conversation was) private, so I won’t say anything more. Everyone thinks we hated each other, which is nonsense. That's the press for you. But we’ve obviously known each other since his time.” SAMSON and all that. So, yeah, it's all good.

Di'Anno also discussed his meeting with Dickinson during a recent appearance on “The Neil Jones Rock Show” To Total Rock. He said, “Well, I can’t tell you too much. I came from the clinic I was in because I also went on stage in Zagreb that night, basically doing autograph sessions, and I wanted to go up and do three songs with a GIRL Cover band thing. All I remember is my van picking me up from the clinic. I'm like, “Where are we going?” So I went to this outdoor concert. And Bruce was on stage. I thought, oh, I have no idea. That was my first thought. Anyway, after it was all over, I went backstage. All BruceThe band came over to say hello and all that stuff. They said, “We'll come over later, in about an hour or two, and watch you.” And the next thing I know, Bruce We came in. We just hugged, shook hands and chatted a little, which was of course private. But yes, it's all good. But the press spread the bad things about us, that we don't like each other and so on and so forth. But yes, it's all good. He's taken a number of jabs at me over the years, and I've responded to it from time to time, but yeah, it just kept it all interesting. Yeah, he's a great singer, man. Absolutely brilliant.”

When asked if that was actually the first time he and Bruce had actually met in the flesh, as was reported, Paul clarified, “No, because obviously we met when he was dating SAMSON (before he joined GIRL) and all that.”

In 2005 Di'Anno was asked by Classic rock reinterpreted editor Jeb Wright to his previous comment Bruce is a better singer for GIRL than he was. He said, “Yes, I admitted that Bruce is a better singer for GIRL when I. I still think that, but it only refers to that GIRL Albums that were created after my first two initials GIRL classic albums. I feel like I could never have really put my stamp on it GIRL Albums that came after “Iron Maiden” And “Murderer” Because Bruce's voice fits this material much better than my voice ever could. Aside from that, I don't really compare our voices because I feel like I couldn't sing Bruce's period of GIRL songs, Bruce definitely doesn't have – and never had – the voice that could replace me on the first two classic albums. My voice is and remains mega aggressive and that helped make the first two classic albums what they are. On the other hand, BruceHis high and sometimes operatic voice helped give the later albums their different character. However, I will say this: Bruce sounds unbelievable to many later GIRL Title like “The Soldier”, “The Number of the Beast” And “Two minutes to midnight” But let's be honest – without wanting to sound arrogant here, just saying what everyone knows – when Bruce trying to emulate myself on classics like “Remember tomorrow”, “Run Free”, “angry child”, “Murderer” or any of the first two GIRL Albums, he just doesn't have the tools for the job as the aggression just isn't there. Your voice can often say a lot about your background, and I think my voice shows the rough, underclass background I come from. Bruce“His voice kind of gives the impression of a schoolboy.”

In a 2022 interview with Sakis Fragos of Greece Rock hard Magazine, Di'Anno addressed the circumstances that led to his departure GIRL and whether it is true that it has something to do with his vocal performance. He said: “My record stands for itself. I’ve played more shows than.” Iron Maiden have ever played… They give a lot of concerts, but I've played a lot more than ever before. So it had nothing to do with my voice. It had nothing to do with that. I was just upset about certain things that were private things in the band. And the way I dealt with them may not have been right, but I dealt with them. And that's the end. And that's all I'll say.

I was pressed on whether it was true that he was not fairly compensated for his work on the first two Iron Maiden albums, Paul said: “I have nothing to say about that at all because, to be honest, it’s nobody’s business. I was paid very well. I am very happy with it. See when I try to say, 'Oh, Iron Maiden “I didn’t pay myself enough money” is a bad reflection of it Iron Maiden. And I don't accept that. I was paid very well. They took care of me. End of story.

Photo credit: Marco Benjamin Alvarado (courtesy of Central Press for Conquest music)