Paul Di’Anno, Iron Maiden’s founding leader, died at 66.
Conquest Music, his record company, confirmed his death in a Facebook post on Monday.
The label stated that Di’Anno died at his Salisbury home, but the cause of death was not mentioned.
“On behalf of his family, Conquest Music are sad to confirm the death of Paul Andrews, professionally known as Paul Di’Anno,” the statement reads.
“Paul passed away at his home in Salisbury at the age of 66.
“Conquest Music are proud to have had Paul Di’Anno in our artist family and ask his legion of fans to raise a glass in his memory.”
Iron Maiden also paid tribute to their former lead singer in an Instagram post.
The music band members expressed gratitude for the time they shared with him and extended condolences to his family.
“We were very grateful to have had the chance to catch up a couple of years ago and to spend time with him once more,” the band wrote.
“On behalf of the band, Rod and Andy, and the whole Iron Maiden team, we extend our deepest sympathies to Paul’s family and close friends. Rest In Peace Paul.”
Di’Anno was born on May 17, 1958, in Chingford, East London, and gained to prominence as Iron Maiden’s lead singer from 1978 to 1981.
He was the voice behind their seminal self-titled first album ‘Iron Maiden’ and the follow-up ‘Killers’, both of which had a significant impact on the heavy metal genre.
He left the band in 1981, claiming that his lifestyle of “non-stop partying” had become unsustainable and unjust to both the band and its supporters. He was succeeded by Bruce Dickinson.
In September 2024, Di’Anno released The ‘Book of the Beast’, a career retrospective album that included highlights from his post-Iron Maiden albums.
Watch Di’Anno’s 1980 live performance with the Iron Maiden band below: