LONDON: Paul Di'Anno, the former lead singer of metal band Iron Maiden, died yesterday.
He was 66.
Metal label Conquest Music, on its Facebook page, confirmed Di'Anno's death in a message on behalf of his family.
It said Di'Anno — whose real name was Paul Andrews — died at his home in Salisbury, England.
"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," the label said.
No cause of death was given in the statement. The label however said Di'Anno had been "troubled by severe health issues in recent years that restricted him to performing in a wheelchair."
It said despite health issues, he continued to play shows around the world, "racking up well over 100 shows since 2023.″
Di'Anno joined Iron Maiden in 1978 when the group had been performing for several years but had yet to settle on a permanent lineup.
He also sang on Iron Maiden's first few releases, including their 1979 EP, The Roundhouse Tapes, and their 1980 self-titled debut, which put them at the forefront of a new era of British heavy metal.