Paul Di’Anno, the first singer of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, passed away in October. He had been dealing with serious health issues for years.
Di’Anno sang on Iron Maiden’s first two albums and helped shape the band’s early sound. His death shocked many fans, and his former bandmates, including Steve Harris and current singer Bruce Dickinson, paid tribute to him soon after his passing.
On November 11th, Di’Anno’s family shared the cause of his death. His sisters, Cheryl and Michelle, explained that a tear in the sac around his heart caused his death. Blood filled the sac from a major artery, which made his heart stop.
His family said his death was “instantaneous and hopefully painless.” They wanted to give fans closure and let them know what happened.
A tribute concert for Di’Anno was held on November 7th at Underworld Camden, a well-known venue in London. This place was special to Di’Anno. He had performed there in 2023 and had planned to return before he passed away.
Several bands played at the tribute show, including Electric Gypsy, Gypsy’s Kiss, and Hi-On Maiden. These bands were supposed to join Di’Anno on a future tour that, sadly, never took place.
Musicians like Terry Wapram, who played with Iron Maiden before, also took part. They played songs from Di’Anno’s career and shared stories about him. Fans who attended could buy special merchandise made for the planned tour.
In the past few years, Di’Anno faced many health problems. He had two knee surgeries after motorcycle accidents, which left him needing a wheelchair. In 2020, he decided to stop touring because of his health.
Despite this, Di’Anno still wanted to make music. He did not get royalties from Iron Maiden songs after he left the band, so he formed a new band called Warhorse. He worked with two musicians from the Czech Republic, Ante Pupačić and Hrvoje Madiraca.
They released their first album, Warhorse, in July 2024. This album marked Di’Anno’s return to music, showing his dedication and love for performing.
In July 2024, Di’Anno met Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden’s current singer, for the first time. It was a big moment for fans because the two had never met in person before.
Di’Anno was in Zagreb, Croatia, for a signing event for his new album, while Dickinson was there for a solo concert. Their meeting showed the mutual respect between the two singers who played major roles in Iron Maiden’s history.
