The cause of death for former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di’Anno has been revealed. Di’Anno, born Paul Andrews, passed away at his home in Salisbury on October 21, 2024, at the age of 66.
A statement shared earlier today (November 11) on Paul’s social media confirmed the details of his passing, with the permission of his family. His sisters Cheryl and Michelle explained: “Paul suffered a tear in the sac surrounding his heart, which caused blood from the main aorta artery to fill the sac and stop his heart. His death was instantaneous, and we hope it was painless. May he rest in peace.”
Over the weekend, fans, friends, and family gathered for an In Memoriam show at Underworld Camden to honor Paul. The tribute featured a powerful musical set performed by his colleagues, offering a heartfelt farewell to the legendary vocalist.
A Legacy in Metal
Born in Chingford, East London, on May 17, 1958, Di’Anno made his mark as the original lead singer of IRON MAIDEN. Between 1978 and 1981, he contributed to the band’s groundbreaking early albums, Iron Maiden and Killers, which cemented their place in heavy metal history.
Following his departure from IRON MAIDEN, Di’Anno pursued a diverse and prolific career, fronting bands like BATTLEZONE and KILLERS while releasing numerous solo projects and collaborations. Despite enduring serious health challenges in recent years, which confined him to a wheelchair, Paul continued to perform, delighting fans with over 100 shows since 2023.
Recent Milestones
In September 2024, Di’Anno released The Book Of The Beast, his first career-spanning retrospective album, highlighting his post-MAIDEN recordings. He also collaborated on a new project, WARHORSE, formed in 2022 with Croatian guitarists Hrvoje Madiraca and Ante “Pupi” Pupačić. WARHORSE’s debut album, Paul Di’Anno’s Warhorse, was released in July 2024.
The band’s earlier release, a 2022 single titled Stop The War / The Doubt Within, raised funds for Paul’s knee surgery, marking his first music release in seven years. Following his operation in September 2022, Di’Anno made a triumphant return to the stage, performing at the Keep It True Rising II festival in Germany and later holding his first full solo concert in Zagreb, Croatia.
A Storied Career and Reunion
Paul’s storied career saw him reunite with IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris for the first time in three decades in May 2022 before a MAIDEN concert in Croatia. That same month, he performed a solo show in Zagreb, which was filmed for an upcoming documentary. The documentary, directed by Wes Orshoski (known for Lemmy and The Damned: Don’t You Wish That We Were Dead), will chronicle Di’Anno’s life and legacy.
Though his health issues presented significant challenges in his later years, Paul Di’Anno’s resilience and passion for music remained unwavering. His influence on heavy metal, especially through his work with IRON MAIDEN, will continue to inspire fans and musicians for generations to come.
Photo credit: Marco Benjamin Alvarado (courtesy of Central Press for Conquest Music)
