‘FORGOTTEN’ Iron Maiden legend Paul Di’Anno died penniless and alone in a tiny council flat – while his former bandmates are multimillionaires.
The heavy metal group’s one-time frontman – who died aged 66 last week – was sacked despite having a huge hand in two smash hit albums.
His weakness for drugs and partying caused friction and saw him booted out of the iconic band when he was just 23.
And Di’Anno, who was in a wheelchair in his later years, signed away his royalty rights for only £50,000, missing out on vast riches.
The records he was involved with – the self-titled Iron Maiden in 1980 and Killers in 1981 – went on to sell more than nine million copies.
Hellraiser Di’Anno – real name Paul Andrews – grew up in Chingford, Essex, and worked as a butcher among other jobs while singing in various bands as a teenager.
He joined Iron Maiden in 1978 but left in 1981.
Last week, his carers found him unresponsive in his ground floor flat in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
At the same time, his former bandmates were playing to a huge crowd in St Paul, Minnesota, USA.
Bruce Dickinson, who replaced Di’Anno as singer over 40 years ago, led the 20,000 fans in a moment’s silence.
He described his predecessor as “devoted to rock’n’roll right up til the last minute of his life”.
Dickinson, also 66, added: “So, Paul, if you’re listening, this is a little message from Minneapolis to wherever you are, upstairs or downstairs, you’re having fun!
“Minneapolis, for Paul Di’Anno, scream for me!”
A neighbour of Di’Anno’s back in the UK told MailOnline they saw an ambulance with blue lights on stop outside the rocker’s ground floor flat.
“Two nurses or carers greeted the paramedics and let them into the property,” they said.
“I think it must have been them who found Paul and raised the alarm.”
They added: “It’s a real shame because, even though I didn’t know him well, he was a nice man.”
The neighbour described Di’Anno as always smiling and waving whenever he went past.
He had been using a wheelchair following knee injuries after an onstage accident in 2015 which developed into sepsis and saw him in hospital for eight months.
During this time Di’Anno also suffered two bouts of MRSA infections.
After leaving hospital he continued to perform for fans, even taking his wheelchair on stage.
Known for his iconic guttural punk singing voice, he has led various bands, including Killers and Battlezone, while also launching solo albums, post-Iron Maiden.
A statement from Di’Anno’s label read: “On behalf of his family, Conquest Music are sad to confirm the death of Paul Andrews, professionally known as Paul Di’Anno.
“Paul passed away at his home in Salisbury at the age of 66.
“Born in Chingford, East London on 17th May 1958, Paul first came to prominence as lead singer of English Heavy Metal band, Iron Maiden between 1978 and 1981.
“He sang on their groundbreaking debut album Iron Maiden, and the influential follow up release, Killers.
“Since leaving Iron Maiden, Paul Di’Anno had a long and eventful recording career with Battlezone and Killers as well as numerous solo releases and guest appearances.
“Despite being troubled by severe health issues in recent years that restricted him to performing in a wheelchair, Paul continued to entertain his fans around the world, racking up well over 100 shows since 2023.
“His first career retrospective album, The Book of the Beast was released in September 2024 and featured highlights of his recordings since leaving Iron Maiden.
“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.”
