Paul Di’Anno, the former singer of heavy metal band Iron Maiden, has died.

Variety reports that Di’Anno, who was 66, died after a several-year illness at his home in Salisbury, England.

The rock singer, born Paul Andrews in Chingford, east London, was Iron Maiden’s frontman from 1978 to 1981.

He can be heard on the band’s first two albums, “Iron Maiden” (1980) and “Killers” (1981). Later he formed his own bands and performed solo.

Di’Anno’s family confirmed his death in a statement through the Conquest Music record label.

“Since leaving Iron Maiden, Paul Di’Anno has had a long and eventful recording career with Battlezone and Killers, as well as numerous solo releases and guest appearances,” the statement said. “Despite suffering from serious health problems in recent years that limited him to performing in a wheelchair, Paul continued to entertain fans around the world, with more than 100 shows since 2023.”

“His first retrospective album, ‘The Book of the Beast’, was released in September 2024 and featured highlights from his recordings since leaving Iron Maiden,” the statement continued. “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.”

Iron Maiden started in 1975 with singer Paul Mario Day.

Di’Anno was fired from the band in 1981, reportedly due to his excessive drinking and drug use.

Bruce Dickinson replaced him as lead singer and is still the frontman.

“I don’t blame them for getting rid of me,” Di’Anno told Metal Hammer magazine in 2022. “Obviously the band was Steve (bassist Steve Harris)’s baby, but I wish I could have contributed more. After a while it made me depressed. Ultimately, I couldn’t give 100% to Maiden anymore and it wasn’t fair to the band, the fans or myself.”