The First Singer of Iron Maiden leaves us with a great heritage of his own.
Paul Andrews (May 17, 1958 – October 21, 2024), known to the world by his stage name Paul Di’Anno, was a towering figure in the realm of heavy metal. As the lead vocalist of Iron Maiden from 1978 to 1981, his voice was the herald of a new era, leaving an indelible mark on the genre. Following his time with Iron Maiden, Di’Anno embarked on a storied career, releasing a multitude of albums both as a solo artist and with bands such as Gogmagog, Di’Anno’s Battlezone, Killers, Rockfellas, and, most recently, Warhorse. His contributions extended further still, joining former Iron Maiden bandmate Dennis Stratton in Praying Mantis to record the 1990 live album Live at Last.
His Label Posted:
“On behalf of his family, Conquest Music are sad to confirm the death of Paul Andrews, professionally known as Paul Di’Anno,” a statement from the label reads. “Paul passed away at his home in Salisbury at the age of 66.
“Born in Chingford, East London on 17th May 1958, Paul first came to prominence as lead singer of English Heavy Metal band, Iron Maiden between 1978 and 1981. He sang on their groundbreaking debut album Iron Maiden, and the influential follow up release, Killers.
“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.
“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.
“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 presence will be forever felt in the echoes of his powerful performances, a legacy etched in the annals of heavy metal.