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**Article:**

It is with heavy hearts that we report the passing of Paul Di'Anno, the former lead vocalist of Iron Maiden, at the age of 66. Representatives for Di'Anno confirmed that he died at his home in Salisbury, England. "On behalf of his family, Conquest Music are saddened to confirm the death of Paul Andrews, professionally known as Paul Di'Anno," they announced in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Di'Anno was born on May 17, 1958, in Chingford, East London. He initially rose to fame as the lead singer of Iron Maiden from 1978 to 1981. He lent his powerful vocals to the band's first two albums, "Iron Maiden" (1980) and "Killers" (1981), which are credited for their significant impact on the heavy metal genre. Di'Anno joined the band after several lineup changes and quickly made his mark on the burgeoning metal scene.

Friction within the band led to Di'Anno's departure in 1981, and he was subsequently replaced by Bruce Dickinson. In a 2020 interview with Metal Hammer, Di'Anno candidly spoke about his exit from Iron Maiden: "I don't blame them for getting rid of me. Obviously, the band was Steve's [Harris] baby, but I wish I'd been able to contribute more. In the end, I couldn't give 100 percent to Maiden anymore."

Despite parting ways with Iron Maiden, Di'Anno continued to have a prolific music career. He recorded with bands like Battlezone and his new project, Killers, as well as numerous solo releases. His first career retrospective album, "The Book of the Beast," was released in September 2024, showcasing highlights from his recordings post-Iron Maiden.

In the 2010s, Di'Anno's health began to decline, leading to knee surgery in 2014 and later relying on a wheelchair for live performances. He also experienced a significant health scare with a lung abscess, initially thought to be cancerous. "I collapsed at home after coming back from Argentina and a scan found a massive big black shadow on my lungs," he told Classic Rock. Fortunately, it turned out to be non-malignant, albeit a challenging ordeal.

Despite his health issues, Di'Anno remained dedicated to his fans, performing over 100 shows since 2023. His family and Conquest Music have asked his legion of fans to "raise a glass in his memory," honoring the legacy of a man whose voice left an indelible mark on the world of heavy metal.