Heavy metal legend and former frontman of an iconic rock band dies at 66.

 By Amy Kuperinsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Paul Di’Anno, the former lead singer of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, has passed away at the age of 66 after battling illness for several years at his home in Salisbury, England, according to Variety.

Born Paul Andrews in Chingford, East London, Di’Anno was the frontman of Iron Maiden from 1978 to 1981. He contributed his distinctive vocals to the band’s first two albums, “Iron Maiden” (1980) and “Killers” (1981), before moving on to form his own bands and pursue a solo career.

His family confirmed the news of his death through a statement released by Conquest Music.

“Since departing from Iron Maiden, Paul Di’Anno enjoyed a long and varied recording career with groups like Battlezone and Killers, along with numerous solo projects and guest appearances,” the statement noted. “Despite facing serious health challenges that confined him to a wheelchair for performances in recent years, Paul continued to entertain fans worldwide, performing over 100 shows since 2023.”

The statement also highlighted his first career retrospective album, “The Book of the Beast,” which was released in September 2024 and features selections from his recordings since leaving Iron Maiden. “Conquest Music is proud to have had Paul Di’Anno in our artist family and asks his many fans to raise a glass in his memory,” it concluded.

Iron Maiden was formed in 1975 with Paul Mario Day as the lead singer. Di’Anno was let go from the band in 1981, reportedly due to his struggles with alcohol and drug abuse. Bruce Dickinson succeeded him and remains the band’s frontman today.

“I don’t blame them for getting rid of me,” Di’Anno shared in a 2022 interview with Metal Hammer magazine. “Obviously, the band was Steve’s (bassist Steve Harris) baby, but I wish I’d been able to contribute more. After a while, that got me down. In the end, I couldn’t give 100% to Maiden anymore, and it wasn’t fair to the band, the fans, or to myself.”

For more updates, follow Amy Kuperinsky on Twitter at @AmyKup or reach out via email at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com.

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