Paul Di’Anno, Iron Maiden’s first lead singer, dies at 66

Paul Di’Anno, the original frontman of Iron Maiden, has passed away at 66.

Conquest Music, his record label, confirmed his death in a statement shared on Facebook on Monday.

The label revealed that Di’Anno died at his home in Salisbury, though the cause of death has not been disclosed.

“On behalf of his family, Conquest Music are sad to confirm the death of Paul Andrews, professionally known as Paul Di’Anno,” the statement reads.

“Paul passed away at his home in Salisbury at the age of 66.

“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 also paid tribute to their former lead singer in an Instagram post.

The music band members expressed gratitude for the time they shared with him and extended condolences to his family.

“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,” the band wrote.

“On behalf of the band, Rod and Andy, and the whole Iron Maiden team, we extend our deepest sympathies to Paul’s family and close friends. Rest In Peace Paul.”

Born on May 17, 1958, in Chingford, East London, Di’Anno rose to fame as Iron Maiden’s lead singer from 1978 to 1981.

He was the voice behind their groundbreaking self-titled debut album ‘Iron Maiden’ and the follow-up ‘Killers’, which became influential in shaping the heavy metal genre.

He parted ways with the band in 1981, admitting that his lifestyle of “non-stop partying” had become unsustainable and unfair to both the band and its fans. He was succeeded by Bruce Dickinson.

In September 2024, Di’Anno released The ‘Book of the Beast’, a career retrospective album featuring highlights from his post-Iron Maiden recordings.

Watch Di’Anno’s 1980 live performance with the Iron Maiden band below: