Insane Secrets 'Menace to Society' Iron Maiden Rocker Paul Di'Anno Took to Grave After Death Aged 66: From Drugs and Firearms Scandal to Muslim Obsession... and 666 Tattoo!
Rocker Paul Di'Anno's secrets have been revealed following his recent death.
Oct. 21 2024, Updated 3:24 p.m. ET
Rocker Paul Di'Anno, former lead vocalist of Iron Maiden, took a slew of secrets to the grave when he passed away on Monday at 66.
Hidden truths include a "knife fight" he got into with his girlfriend, a chaotic relationship with religion, and shocking arrest charges among others, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
Di'Anno was previously arrested for spousal abuse, cocaine possession, and firearms offenses.
A statement posted on Di'Anno's official Facebook page — shared by his family and record label, Conquest Music — announced he passed away at his home in Salisbury, England.
The label wrote: "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."
While no cause of death was given, the news came after the heavy metal singer struggled with a weakened immune system following a sepsis infection in 2015.
Di'Anno was the lead vocalist for Iron Maiden in its early years before getting fired and replaced in 1981.
He had also been performing in a wheelchair since undergoing knee surgery two years ago.
Di'Anno's life was full of twists and turns — some of which have come to light following his passing.
In the early 1990s, the musician moved from New York to live with his new girlfriend in L.A. — where a "knife fight" broke out between them.
When authorities were called to the apartment, Di'Anno was arrested for abuse, cocaine possession, and firearms offenses.
Following his court appearance, the rocker was sentenced to four months in an L.A. jail, where the judge labeled him a "menace to society". He then returned to the UK after being deported.
He later opened up about the situation, saying: "My biggest regrets are those domestic violence incidents in my past, I’m really ashamed of them."
"But then jail was the thing that eventually made me start to sort my life out so there was some good in it."
Di'Anno also had a chaotic relationship with religion, once claiming he had converted to Islam in the 1990s in the Qur'an.
He later backpedaled the remark, saying, "I think religion kills everybody. I don't believe in it. ... No, my father was a Muslim, I must admit. But I don't give a f---."
In his autobiography, Di'Anno also claimed to be Catholic, Jewish, and Aboriginal.
The rocker clarified in later interviews that while he was never actually Muslim, he tried to become a better person by applying some Muslim philosophies to his life.
Pushing the confusion further, Di'Anno had tattoos on the back of his head that read, "666" and "GOD = SUCKER."
Born Paul Andrews, Di'Anno joined Iron Maiden after an audition in November 1978 after the band had already gone through two frontmen.
Despite being initially unimpressed with the gang, Di'Anno ended up singing on its chart-topping debut in 1990 and its follow-up album, Killers.
He was fired in 1981 and replaced by Bruce Dickinson, who has continued on as the lead vocalist.
Following news of Di'Anno's passing, Iron Maiden shared a tribute for their former lead singer.
It read: "We are all deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Paul Di’Anno earlier today."
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"Paul’s contribution to Iron Maiden was immense and helped set us on the path we have been traveling as a band for almost five decades."
The band added: "His pioneering presence as a frontman and vocalist, both on stage and on our first two albums, will be very fondly remembered not just by us, but by fans around the world."
"We were very grateful to have had the chance to catch up a couple of years ago and to spend time with him once more."
The sentiment was shared alongside a photo of Di'Anno and bassist Steve Harris backstage during the group's Legacy of the Beast world tour in May 2022.
Most recently, Di'Anno announced he would be playing select festivals and shows that had wheelchair accessibility.
He also released his The Book of the Beast album in late September, which included all of his favorite songs recorded since leaving Iron Maiden.
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