Heavy metal legend, iconic rock band’s former singer, dead at 66

Paul Di’Anno, the former lead singer of heavy metal band Iron Maiden, has died.

Variety reports that Di’Anno, who was 66, died after an illness of several years at his home in Salisbury, England.

The rock singer, born Paul Andrews in Chingford, East London, was the frontman of Iron Maiden from 1978 to 1981.

He can be heard on the band’s first two albums, “Iron Maiden” (1980) and “Killers” (1981). He later formed his own bands and performed solo.

Di’Anno’s family confirmed his death in a statement through the record label Conquest Music.

“Since leaving Iron Maiden, Paul Di’Anno had a long and eventful recording career with Battlezone and Killers as well as numerous solo releases and guest appearances,” the statement said. “Despite being troubled by severe health issues in recent years that restricted him to performing in a wheelchair, Paul continued to entertain his fans around the world, racking up well over 100 shows since 2023.”

“His first career retrospective album, ‘The Book of the Beast,’ was released in September 2024 and featured highlights of his recordings since leaving Iron Maiden,” the statement continued. “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.”

Iron Maiden started in 1975 with singer Paul Mario Day.

Di’Anno was fired from the band in 1981, reportedly for his excessive drinking and drug use.

Bruce Dickinson replaced him as lead singer, and is still the frontman.

“I don’t blame them for getting rid of me,” Di’Anno told Metal Hammer magazine in 2022. “Obviously, the band was Steve’s (bassist Steve Harris) baby, but I wish I’d been able to contribute more. After a while that got me down. In the end I couldn’t give 100% to Maiden anymore and it wasn’t fair to the band, the fans or to myself.”