Iron Maiden’s Paul Di’Anno Dead at 66

Former Iron Maiden vocalist and rock music legend Paul Di’Anno has passed away at the age of 66, according to an announcement from his family via Conquest Music.

Paul Andrews, also known by his stage name Paul Di’Anno, passed away at his Salisbury, England home on October 21. The cause of death has not been confirmed.

Di’Anno had been battling a number of serious health issues in the last few years, which resulted in the need to perform in a wheelchair. Di’Anno discussed some of the health issues he was struggling with in interviews, noting a major knee surgery that he had to undergo several years ago. Di’Anno also struggled with lymphedema and other undisclosed health issues.

That didn’t slow Di’Anno down, though. He continued to perform live frequently, with upwards of 100 live shows since the start of 2023 alone. His last live set was just a few weeks ago.

Paul Di’Anno Metal Legacy

Di’Anno was born in Chingford, London in 1958. He first established a name for himself in the music world as the lead singer of iconic heavy metal outfit Iron Maiden, notably between the years 1978 and 1981. He contributed the lead vocals on their debut self-titled album in 1980 as well as their follow-up record Killers in 1981.

After leaving Iron Maiden, Di’Anno went on to produce music with Killers and Battlezone. He also nurtured a lucrative solo career.

Di’Anno’s most recent release was a 2024 career retrospective titled The Book Of The Beast, which contains quite a bit of post-Iron Maiden material and select curated songs from the legendary metal vocalist’s career in addition to a documentary.

Paul Di’Anno also famously met with his Iron Maiden replacement, Bruce Dickinson, in recent years. Following years of rumors that the two vocalists had a feud, Di’Anno cleared the air about their relationship.

“Everyone thinks that we hated each other, which is bullsh**,” said Di’Anno. “That’s the press for you. But we’ve known each other, obviously, from when he was in Samson and all that. So, yeah, it’s all good.”

We wish Paul Di’Anno’s family, friends, and fans the best during this very difficult time. Conquest Music has requested fans to “raise a glass in his memory.” Rest in peace, Paul.

Photo by Steve Johnston/Shutterstock

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