R.I.P. Iron Maiden's Paul Di’Anno: Celebrating a heavy metal trailblazer

Paul Di’Anno, the original vocalist for Iron Maiden, passed away on October 21, 2024, at the age of 66 in his home in Salisbury, England. His death was caused by a tear in the pericardium—the sac surrounding the heart—which allowed blood to leak from the main aorta, leading to cardiac arrest. According to his sisters, Cheryl and Michelle, who shared the information publicly and mentioned his health issues, his passing was described as "instantaneous and hopefully painless.".

A tribute concert in his honor was held at Underworld Camden on November 7, 2024. The event brought together fans, family, and fellow musicians who celebrated his legacy with performances by bands like Electric Gypsy, Gypsy’s Kiss, and Hi-On Maiden. These groups had been slated to support an upcoming tour for Di’Anno, a project tragically cut short by his death.

As Conquest Music noted: "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..."

Di’Anno was a pivotal figure in the early years of Iron Maiden, performing as their lead singer from 1978 to 1981. He contributed to their first two groundbreaking albums, Iron Maiden (1980) and Killers (1981), which are often credited with shaping the sound of heavy metal during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. His distinctive voice and stage presence left a permanent mark on the genre.

Paul Di’Anno and Iron Maiden's influence

Later in life, Di’Anno expressed pride in his contributions, noting that bands like Metallica and Pantera cited those early Iron Maiden albums as inspirations for their own music. After his tenure with Iron Maiden, Di’Anno pursued a solo career and worked with bands such as Battlezone, Killers, and most recently, Warhorse.

Health problems

His final project, Warhorse, released their debut album in July 2024, marking his return to recording after years of health struggles, including surgeries and recovery from sepsis. On top of that, he "underwent major knee surgery in Croatia," and explained he partly toured to pay for his medical bills (though, of course, that does not necessarily mean he didn't want to perform live).

Despite these challenges, it's worth reiterating that he performed over 100 shows globally from 2023 onwards. Former bandmates, including bassist Steve Harris and current frontman Bruce Dickinson, have paid tribute to Di’Anno. Harris recalled their recent conversations fondly, while Dickinson praised his influence on Iron Maiden's rise to prominence, regarding him as a groundbreaking figure with an amazing voice.

Di’Anno’s legacy as a trailblazer in heavy metal remains intact, his career spanning decades of impactful performances and recordings.