Paul Di’Anno
- FaceOff - עימות חזיתי
- 17 hours ago
- 3 min read
Here are some interesting facts about Paul Di’Anno who was the lead vocalist for "Iron Maiden" from 1978 to 1981:
= Paul Di’Anno was born Paul Andrews on May 17, 1958, in Chingford, East London, England.
= He was raised in a working-class family and had a tough upbringing, including time in and out of trouble during his youth.
= As a teenage he was working as a butcher and a chef in hotels and restaurants.
= Early musical influences included punk rock, heavy metal, and bands like "Deep Purple", "Led Zeppelin", and "Sex Pistols".
= In 1978, Di’Anno became the lead singer for "Iron Maiden", replacing Dennis Wilcock.
= He recorded vocals for the band’s first release, "The Soundhouse Tapes" (1979), which gained them attention in the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) scene.
= In February 1980 he released his first single with the band - "Running Free".
= Di’Anno fronted the band on their debut studio album, "Iron Maiden", released in 1980, which featured songs like "Prowler”, "Iron Maiden" and “Phantom of the Opera.”
= On December 21, 1980 he performed with "Maiden" in Rainbow Theatre, London. This performance would be released as the firs video of the band named "Live At The Rainbow", on May 11, 1981.
= He also sang on the second album, "Killers" (1981), which included tracks such as “Wrathchild” and “Murders in the Rue Morgue”.
= Di’Anno’s raw, punk-influenced voice was key to "Iron Maiden’s" early sound.
= His erratic behavior and heavy drinking and drug use led to growing tension with the band.
= He was fired from "Iron Maiden" in September 1981, officially due to vocal issues but largely due to substance abuse and unreliability.
= In 1983, he formed a self-titled band, "Di’Anno", and released the "Di’Anno" album in 1984, blending metal with hard rock.
= He briefly joined the short-lived NWOBHM supergroup "Gogmagog" in 1985, alongside ex-"Iron Maiden" drummer Clive Burr, future "Iron Maiden" guitarist Janick Gers, guitarist Pete Willis of "Def Leppard" and bassist Neil Murray previously of "Whitesnake".
= "Gogmagog" released the EP "I Will Be There" in 1985, but the project quickly dissolved.
= Also in 1985, Di’Anno formed "Battlezone", a heavier band more in line with his "Maiden" roots.
= "Battlezone" released two studio albums: "Fighting Back" (1986) and "Children of Madness" (1987), both receiving moderate success in the UK and Europe.
= In the late 1980s, he also briefly collaborated with the melodic metal band "Praying Mantis", contributing to live performances, together with fellow "Iron Maiden" member Dennis Stratton, recording of their 1990 live album "Live at Last".
= In 1990, he formed "Killers", named after the "Maiden" album. "Killers" released "Murder One" (1992) and "Menace to Society" (1994).
= In 1997, Di’Anno formed "The Almighty Inbredz", a crossover punk-metal project. "The Almighty Inbredz" released an EP in 1998.
= In late 2008, Di'Anno relocated to Brazil and toured with a new band named "Rockfellas".
= Between 2005 and 2014, Di’Anno worked with a Swedish "Iron Maiden" tribute-style band, performing Maiden classics. In 2006 they recorded a cover of "Led Zeppelin's" song "Kashmir"
= In 2011, he was convicted of benefit fraud in the UK after it was revealed he had been performing while claiming disability benefits. He was sentenced to nine months in prison, serving a few months.
= In August 2014 Di'Anno released the album "The League of Shadows" with a new band, "Architects of Chaoz".
= In August 2023, it was announced that Di'Anno would release a new album under the name "Paul Di'Anno's Warhorse".
= Di'Anno was part of various tribute albums for "ZZ Top", "UFO", "Van Halen", "Thin Lizzy", "Nazareth", "The Rolling Stones", "Led Zeppelin", Rod Stewart and The Faces, and even A Metal Tribute To Michael Jackson.
= Di’Anno identified as Christian, mentioning belief in God in several interviews. In various passages he also claimed to be Muslim, Jewish, and Aboriginal.
= Di'Anno married five times and had six children.
= Throughout his career he struggle with drug and alcohol addiction, which affected his health and career.
= His health deteriorated significantly during the 2010s due to chronic leg problems, including infection and severe arthritis.
= He became wheelchair-bound and underwent major leg surgery in 2022, which was funded in part by fans through crowdfunding.
= In November 2021, Di'Anno relocated to Croatia to undergo treatment and surgery for his knee. "Iron Maiden" helped pay for the final part of his treatment.
= Paul Di’Anno died on on 21 October 2024, at the age of 66, following years of health complications.
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