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Former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di’Anno has died at the age of 66
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Former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di’Anno has died at the age of 66

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Iron Maiden singer Paul Di’Anno has died at the age of 66.

Representatives for Di’Anno confirmed the news to Fox News Digital on Monday, saying the singer died at his home in Salisbury, England.

Representatives and family of Di’Anno said in a statement to The Daily Mail: “On behalf of his family, Conquest Music is saddened to confirm the death of Paul Andrews, known professionally as Paul Di’Anno. Paul died at his home in Salisbury at 66 Born in Chingford, East London, on May 17, 1958, Paul first came to prominence as the lead singer of the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, between 1978 and 1981.

Di’Anno was the lead singer on the band’s first two albums, “Iron Maiden” and “Killers”, in 1980 and 1981 respectively.

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Steve Harris, Clive Burr, Paul Di'Anno, Adrian Smith and Dave Murray.

Paul Di’Anno, center, with Iron Maiden band members, from left: Steve Harris, Clive Burr, Adrian Smith and Dave Murray in 1981. (Robert Ellis/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

He joined the band in 1978 after it had undergone several line-up changes with other singers and musicians.

According to Ultimate Classic Rock, friction within the band, canceled gigs and less than stellar live performances caused Di’Anno and the band to part ways in 1981 and he was replaced by Bruce Dickinson.

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Dennis STRATTON and Steve HARRIS and Paul DI'ANNO and IRON MAIDEN and Dave MURRAY and Clive BURR; L-R: Clive Burr, Dave Murray, Steve Harris, Dennis Stratton, Paul Di'Anno - posed, group shot, walking

Di’Anno, far right, with the band in 1980. (Virginia Turbett/Redferns)

Di’Anno told Metal Hammer in 2020: “I don’t blame them for getting rid of me. Obviously the band was Steve (Harris)’s baby, but I wish I could have contributed more. After For a while it was. Ultimately, I couldn’t give 100 percent to Maiden anymore, and it wasn’t fair to the band, the fans or to myself.”

He added: “The two albums I made with the band were crucial (to the metal genre). Later in life, when I met Metallica, Pantera and Sepultura, and they told me those albums got them into music , it made me incredibly proud.”

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“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.”

– Conquest music

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

Di’Anno suffered health problems in the 2010s, including knee surgery in 2014, often performing live shows in a wheelchair. He was also afraid of cancer.

He told Classic Rock: “I collapsed at home after coming back from Argentina and a scan found a huge big black shadow on my lungs. I thought I was on my way out but it turned out not to be cancerous.”

“It was an abscess that was completely infected and was the size of a rugby ball. It turns out I’ve been living with this thing inside me for the past few years,” Di’Anno said.

Close-up of Paul Di'Anno singing into the microphone.

Di’Anno has had a handful of health issues in recent years, including a cancer scare. (Kevin Nixon/Metal Hammer Magazine/Future via Getty Images/Future via Getty Images)

He added: ‘I think I’m damn lucky, but the last six months have been tough.’

His family’s statement to Daily Mail 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, performing more than 100 shows since 2023. “

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They added: “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.”