Paul Di'Anno, former lead singer of Iron Maiden, died at the age of 66 at his home in Salisbury.

Di'Anno, whose real name was Paul Andrews, first gained prominence with Iron Maiden between 1978 and 1981, recording the band's groundbreaking debut album "Iron Maiden" and the influential follow-up "Killers." His vocal work on those early albums is widely regarded as pioneering, with Iron Maiden's founders and members describing his contribution as foundational to the band's legacy.

Iron Maiden released a statement confirming Di'Anno's passing, expressing deep sadness at the loss.

The band stated that Di'Anno's presence as a frontman and vocalist helped shape the path Iron Maiden has followed for nearly five decades.

The statement noted that the band had recently caught up with Di'Anno and expressed gratitude for their time together.

Former Iron Maiden vocalist Blaze Bayley, who performed with the band from 1994 to 1999, confirmed Di'Anno's death and shared personal memories of their tours across Russia, Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand.

Bayley described Di'Anno as a humorous and talented musician, with his voice on early Iron Maiden albums considered superior to the studio recordings.

Bayley has since included the song "Wrathchild" in his solo setlist as a tribute to Di'Anno.

Di'Anno also had a long career beyond Iron Maiden, releasing music with Battlezone and Killers, and contributing to numerous solo projects and guest appearances.

His passing has been described by bandmates as a significant loss, with bassist and founder Steve Harris noting that Di'Anno remained active in the music scene until recently, continuing to perform when possible."