In a recent interview with The Metal Voice , Blaze Bayley Iron Maiden vocalist , spoke about the death of Paul Di'Anno , another former frontman of the band, who passed away last October at the age of 66. Asked about his initial reaction to the news, Blaze shared deep feelings about his colleague and friend.
“Well, he wasn’t in good health when I last saw him, and he’d been using a wheelchair for some time. But we did a lot together. We traveled to many places. Before the problems in Ukraine, we toured Russia. We played at the Sweden Rock Festival , we went to Australia and New Zealand together. We shared many moments.”
Blaze admitted he was devastated by the news: “I can’t say I didn’t expect it, but I was completely devastated when I heard Paul had passed away. I didn’t think it would be at that moment. It felt wrong. Of course, it was too soon. He shouldn’t have gone. But it was a shock. And you think about everything we went through together.”
And his voice… There were nights when we were on tour, with incredible bands they put together for us, and you’d close your eyes and hear him singing those early Maiden songs. It was like, ‘He’s better than ever on the record.’ Incredible. If you were lucky, at certain moments when he was rested and unstressed, he just sounded amazing. He’s a legend. That was the voice that started it all, on the first album. Nobody can take that away from him.”
Braze continued: “Iron Maiden’s first two albums are Di’Anno’s albums. And that was a band that didn’t care about rules, that did what it wanted, creating the music it thought was the best possible. They didn’t care what people said: ‘The chorus should be here,’ ‘The guitar solo should…’ They really didn’t care. There was no click track, nothing. Everything in the studio was about vibe and timing. You can hear what Paul does. It sounds like he’s there, expressive and full of attitude. And that’s in his voice. You feel his energy. He did fantastic work on his solo albums too. It’s tragic that he’s gone.”
Tribute on Stage
Blaze revealed that he included a tribute to Di'Anno in his current setlist: “In my show, I do a little tribute, and it’s fun for me. I sing “Wrathchild” in the setlist . It’s for Paul — it makes me think of him. It’s an excuse to play a song that I love too. And it’s like: ‘Let’s remember Paul.’ For four minutes, think of him. And the song comes alive. It’s a great song, which breaks the rules in structure and everything. So, all of that fits with my mindset.”
Bayley also lamented that he, Di'Anno, and Bruce Dickinson never performed together: “I always hoped that one day Paul, Bruce, and I could get on stage together. Just one show. It would be fantastic for the fans. That dream died with Paul, which is a great shame. I thought it was unlikely, but not impossible. Now it's impossible, and that's sad.”
When Di'Anno's death was announced , Blaze posted on his social media: “Very sad about the death of my friend Paul Di'Anno. We did several tours and shows together over the years… Sweden Rock, Ukraine, Australia, Scandinavia. He had a great sense of humor, and those were crazy times. His voice and his music with Iron Maiden and his solo projects will live on forever. Fondly remembered, eternal longing. RIP.”
The Legacy of Paul Di'Anno
Paul Di'Anno (born Paul Andrews ) passed away at his home in Salisbury. Born on May 17, 1958, in London, he became known as the vocalist for Iron Maiden between 1978 and 1981, making his mark with the albums Iron Maiden (1980) and Killers (1981). After leaving the band, Di'Anno pursued a solo career and with groups such as Battlezone and Killers , in addition to releasing his own original works.
Despite health problems that confined him to a wheelchair in recent years, Di'Anno remained active, performing over 100 shows since 2023. His retrospective album, *The Book of the Beast *, was released in September 2024, celebrating his post-Maiden journey.
Paul Di'Anno left his definitive mark on Brazil with two emotional tours in his final years: the 2023 farewell tour, with over 30 shows between January and March, and a final series of performances in 2024, which ended up being his last encounter with Brazilian fans. Although he announced in 2015, during *The Beast is Back* , that it would be his last visit to the country, the affection of the audience and his own connection to the land of metal made him return repeatedly.
In 2023, Di'Anno toured numerous cities in a triumphant tour, filled with sold-out shows and intense performances, even while facing physical limitations. The vocalist always declared his love for Brazil, treating it as a "second home," and this special relationship ensured his return in 2024 for some isolated shows and festivals, before his passing in October of the same year. His performances in the country, especially those of recent years, solidified his legacy as one of the most authentic voices in metal, immortalizing classics from the albums Iron Maiden (1980) and Killers (1981) in the memory of Brazilian fans.
READ ALSO: Iron Maiden: Steve Harris recalls Blaze Bayley's departure and Bruce Dickinson's return
