Paul Di’Anno, the lead singer of Iron Maiden, died on Monday. He was 66.

He died at his home in Salisbury, England, his family and his record label Conquest Music said in a statement on his official Facebook page. No cause of death was given, but Di’Anno had had medical problems for years, suffering from a weakened immune system after contracting sepsis nine years ago and performing in a wheelchair since undergoing knee surgery in 2022. He has performed over 100 shows in his chair since 2023.

“Conquest Music is proud to have Paul Di’Anno in our artist family and asks his legion of fans to raise a glass in his memory,” the label said. It did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for additional comment on Monday.

“We are all deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Paul Di’Anno earlier today,” Iron Maiden said in a statement on behalf of the band, co-managers Andy Taylor and Rod Smallwood and the entire Iron Maiden team.

“Paul’s contribution to Iron Maiden was enormous and helped set us on the path we have been on as a band for almost five decades. His groundbreaking presence as a frontman and singer, both on stage and on our first two albums, will be fondly remembered not only by us, but by fans around the world,” the statement said. The announcement was accompanied by a photo of Di’Anno and bassist Steve Harris backstage in Croatia during the band’s Legacy of the Beast world tour in May 2022.

“We were very grateful that we had the opportunity to catch up and spend time with him again a few years ago,” the band said.

“It’s so sad that he’s gone,” Harris added, noting that he was recently texting with Di’Anno about the ups and downs of men’s soccer club West Ham United.

“At least until recently he was still performing, it was something that kept him going, to be there whenever he could. He will be missed by all of us. Rest in peace, buddy,” Harris said.

Born Paul Andrews in Chingford, east London, on May 17, 1958, Di’Anno made his name as a member of Iron Maiden from 1978-81. He recorded the band’s self-titled debut album in 1980 and then its 1981 follow-up, ‘Killers’. After being fired, he was replaced by Bruce Dickinson, who has remained the act’s lead vocalist. Later, Di’Anno fronted other bands, including Killers, Battlezone and Warhorse.

In September he released the album “The Book of the Beast” of his favorite songs recorded since leaving Iron Maiden, featuring Tony Martin of Black Sabbath, ZP Theart of Dragonforce and Lidya Balaban of the band Crowley.

He also announced that he would only play select festivals and larger shows in wheelchair-accessible theaters. In 2023, Di’Anno confirmed that Iron Maiden had helped him pay medical bills for the last few months of treatment, saying he would be “forever grateful for that”.