The lead singer who was the voice of English heavy metal band Iron Maiden at the start of its influential career has died, his record label has announced.

Conquest Music released a statement Monday morning confirming the death of Paul Andrew, known professionally as Paul Di’Anno. Di’Anno sang on Iron Maiden’s 1980 debut album of the same name and on the 1981 second album, ‘Killers’. He was credited with co-writing the band’s first single, ‘Running Free’, and the title track of ‘Killers’.

The band replaced him with Bruce Dickinson in 1981; Conquest said that Di’Anno has since had “a long and eventful recording career with Battlezone and Killers, as well as numerous solo releases and guest appearances.”

Iron Maiden said on social media that band members were “deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Paul Di’Anno earlier today.” The band’s statement read: “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 label said the singer had “suffered serious health problems in recent years” but had sung at more than 100 shows as of 2023, despite having to perform in a wheelchair. According to Conquest, he was 66 and died at his home in Salisbury, England.

He had also released a retrospective album, “The Book of the Beast”, in September. According to promotional materials for that album, an “unlimited” documentary about Di’Anno was in the works, expected to be ready for festival screenings in late 2024.

“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’s statement said.

“It’s just so sad that he’s gone,” Iron Maiden co-founder Steve Harris. “I only had contact with him recently when we texted each other about West Ham and their ups and downs. In any case, he was still performing until recently, 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.”