Paul Di’Anno: I don’t blame Iron Maiden for firing me

Former Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di’Anno says he doesn’t blame the band for firing him. Di’Anno now realizes the Iron Maiden was right to fire him in 1981.

By mporter on February 25, 2020
Promotional portrait of British heavy metal group, Iron Maiden, 1981: (L-R) Steve Harris, Clive Burr, Paul Di’Anno, Adrian Smith, and Dave Murray. (Photo by Robert Ellis/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

By: Madeleine Porter

Former Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di’Anno says he doesn’t blame the band for firing him. As Di’Anno prepares for his last-ever concert, he now realizes the band was right to fire him in 1981, only two albums into their career.

There are countless lineup changes within bands in classic rock and heavy metal. Whether they are due to a death in the band or simply internal issues among bandmates, some decisions are just for the best.

Di’Anno sang on Iron Maiden’s first two albums before he was fired. He was replaced by Bruce Dickinson because of Di’Anno’s partying habits.

“I don’t blame them for getting rid of me,” Di’Anno admits to Metal Hammer. “Obviously, the band as Steve’s [Harris] baby, but I wish I’d been able to contribute more. After a while, that got me down. In the end, I couldn’t give 100 percent to Maiden anymore and it wasn’t fair to the band, the fans or to myself.”

Though he wishes he had been more involved with the band, Di’Anno is happy with the two Iron Maiden albums he was a part of. Di’Anno stated the two albums had an impact that was pivotal to the metal and hard rock genre.

Di’Anno will play his final live show this year with fellow former Maiden members under the names Ides of March to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Iron Maiden. The concert will be a part of the 2020 Beermageddon Festival in Worcestershire, England on Aug 30.

 

 

 

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