TDC - Paul Di'Anno

[alantig]

Quote

On behalf of his family, Conquest Music has confirmed the death of Paul Andrews, professionally known as Paul Di'Anno.

Paul passed away at his home in Salisbury at the age of 66.

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Born in Chingford, East London on May 17, 1958, Paul first came to prominence as lead singer of English heavy metal band IRON MAIDEN between 1978 and 1981. He sang on their groundbreaking debut album "Iron Maiden" and the influential follow-up release, "Killers".

Since leaving IRON MAIDEN, Paul Di'Anno had a long and eventful recording career with BATTLEZONE and KILLERS as well as numerous solo releases and guest appearances.

Despite being troubled by severe health issues in recent years that restricted him to performing in a wheelchair, Paul continued to entertain his fans around the world, racking up well over 100 shows since 2023.

RIP, Paul.  Up the irons!

[Steve Haynie]

His new album arrived in the mail last week. 

[Brooks]

I prefer the 1st 2 Maiden albums, I like the sound of his voice more than Bruces. RIP

[RobB]

I like Di’Anno’s voice on, “The Ides of March” and “Ghengis Khan.”

[DaveL]

so, I've posted about this over the years a few times...   My first concert ever was Judas Priest at the 

Orpheum Theater in Boston 7/28/81...  Somehow I got first row balcony center tickets... and it was an old

timey theater so the balcony was really close to the stage...      I had no idea who Iron Maiden was, although

I had a friend who had cable who told me there's a song called Wrathchild on Mtv and they were cool...   I was

not prepared for the face ripping that I was about to witness.       The Ides of March started,  they had roadies with

Eddie masks shooting off fire extinguishers and smoke...    I remember they played, Murders in the Rue Morgue,

Wratchild, Remember Tommorrow, Phantom of the opera, Running free,  killers and wratchild... pretty decent set

 

The next day I ran out and picked up Killers which remained on my turntable for the rest of the summer.    Didn't

get much better than Ides of March into Wratchild into Murders in the Rue Morgue...  They were my favorite band

for the next couple years...   Don't get me wrong NOTB is stellar, but Maiden lost me when they started doing

galloping history lessons about the pyramids and 12 minute opuses such as Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner... 

Seems like he lived a hard life... I remember him smoking butts on stage and I'm thinkin the dude really needed

a smoke but other than that he was great.      I also think that based on the show I was at that Maiden was giving

Priest (point of entry tour) a run for their money.    They certainly picked it up a notch when they recorded 

Screaming for Vengeance.     was shocked when they dumped Paul (and Clive Burr) but I do get it...

RIP Paul...  

 

BTW:  one of my favorite Pod of Thunder episodes where they discuss Murders in the Rue Morgue...     

Chris gives some excellent advice and said if you see a dead body just keep walkin cos who needs that

aggravation.  They also discuss whether Steve Harris was trying to improve upon Poe.   lol  

 

       

[Disturber]

Best Iron Maiden singer and he should have remained in the band. Pauls voice was the perfect mix between punk and metal, just in the right time when metal was taking over after the punk movement in the UK. It was raw, mean and in your face.

When I first heard Maiden I think Killers just had been released. I got my hands on two EP's. The women In Uniform, Drifter (live) and Phantom of the Oprea (live) EP. I did not know until many years later that Women in Uniform was a cover. That EP is great.

I also bought the Maiden Japan EP with Running Free, Remember Tomorrow, Killers and Innocent Exile. 

I just loved the covers with Eddie. And that the band sounded so raw. It was for real, not a gimmick.

Iron Maiden's two first album rocks. I never bought them but I taped them from friends and wore out those Maxell cassettes.

Then in came Dickinson, Harris annoying galloping bass lines up and down the fret board, and the even more annoying galloping drums. Iron maiden would never be the same again. Although I really liked Number of the Beast and Piece of Mind, and saw the band with Dickinson many times in the 1980's I hardly ever listened to those albums since then. Eddie became a gimmick, something to laugh at. Geeky not cool.

But the two first Iron Maiden albums, the S/T one and KILLERS, they really stood the test of time. I love them now almost as much as I did back then. The rest of the Iron Maiden catalogue, not interested, it's music for kids who play Dungeons and Dragons. The first two Maiden albums were for real. And that is all because of Paul Di'Anno.

 

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/iron-maiden-maiden-japan/

Edited October 22, 2024 by Disturber

[RobB]

On 10/21/2024 at 5:27 PM, DaveL said:

I also think that based on the show I was at that Maiden was giving Priest (point of entry tour) a run for their money. 

The west coast leg of the 1980 “Killers” tour had them opening for UFO on their “No Place to Run” tour. I had the first two LPs and all of the 12” EPs, so I was really looking forward to their set. Maiden took the Long Beach Sports Arena stage like a cyclone: brutal and devastatingly tight. They made UFO sound like they were sitting on bar stools (come to think about it, that’s probably where they spent their afternoon, lol). 

Edited October 23, 2024 by RobB

[Biz Prof]

I really liked the debut LP a lot, but Killers stands out as one of THE best metal albums....ever. Flawless production, a diverse set of songs, and near perfect performances.  I also like the Dickinson era through Seventh Son, then....they just lost me.

I just cannot get into the Janick-era soccer stadium anthems from the last several albums at all. They all sound the same and they're boring as hell.

RIP, Paul.

Edited October 24, 2024 by Biz Prof

[gorch]

My Iron Maiden Singer. RIP.

[Travis]

Damn, I’ve been offline for a few days and missed this. Spinning the first two Maiden albums now. RIP Paul…

[Steve Haynie]

I made an early order of Paul's latest album that arrived last week.  This poster arrived in the mail today.  

[Biz Prof]

 

 

[scottcald]

Paul had such a cool street tough swagger while in Maiden.   In '87 or '88 I saw Paul Di'Anno's Battlezone at.....maybe the 9:30 Club(?).  Great show, he sounded strong.  I knew it was a low budget tour when one guitarist broke a string and didn't have a backup and waited for the roadie to replace the broken string.  Pretty ballsy to not even have one backup guitar between the two guys on a tour.  I still listen to some of those Battlezone songs.   RIP Mr. Di'Anno.