Former lead singer of legendary heavy metal band dies at 66

Paul Di’Anno, the former lead singer for legendary heavy metal band Iron Maiden, has died at age 66.
Di’Anno died Monday at his home in Salisbury, England, his family and record label said in a statement. A cause of death has not been announced, but he reportedly had multiple health issues including a weakened immune system after contracting sepsis nine years ago; after undergoing knee surgery in 2022, he performed more than 100 concerts in a wheelchair last year.
“Conquest Music are proud to have had Paul Di’Anno in our artist family, and ask his legion of fans to raise a glass in his memory,” his label said.
Di’Anno was best known as the early frontman and vocalist for Iron Maiden, which formed in late 1975 in England with bassist Steve Harris and guitarist Dave Murray. Di’Anno performed with the group from 1977 to 1981, appearing on the band’s first two albums, featuring “Running Free” and “Sanctuary.” (The band briefly featured other vocalists, Paul Day and Dennis Wilcock, before Di’Anno but neither appeared on any of Iron Maiden’s recorded work.)
“We are all deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Paul Di’Anno earlier today,” Iron Maiden said in a statement Monday. “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… We were very grateful to have had the chance to catch up a couple of years ago and to spend time with him once more.”
Iron Maiden’s official Facebook page showed a picture of Di’Anno reuniting with Harris in 2022.
“It’s just so sad he’s gone,” Harris added. “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.”
Di’Anno, who was born Paul Andrews in 1958, was fired from Iron Maiden after their second album and replaced by Bruce Dickinson, who has been the band’s lead singer for four decades. The hard rock/heavy metal group’s hits include “Run for the Hills,” “The Trooper,” “2 Minutes to Midnight,” and “The Number of the Beast.”
Di’Anno went on to perform in other bands, including Gogmagog, Killers, Battlezone and Warhorse. In September, he released “The Book of the Beast,” chronicling his favorite songs recorded since leaving Iron Maiden.
According to Blabbermouth, a documentary about Di’Anno is expected to be released in 2025 by Wes Orshoski, who previously directed films about Motorhead’s Lemmy and the punk rock band The Damned.
“As many know, I’ve been working on a documentary about Paul for the past several years, as he has been fighting to get back on his feet — literally, emotionally and professionally. It’s obviously quite sad that it has ended this way,” Orshoski wrote on Instagram. “The film will be out next year, and details will be forthcoming — the hope is for it to debut at film festivals in early 2025. I’m very excited for the MAIDEN faithful to see it. Once it is released you will see just how tough his life has been over the past decade and how hard he fought to change it. Maybe he’s finally found some peace.”