Paul Di'Anno
Encyclopedia
Paul Andrews better known as Paul Di'Anno, is an English
singer best known as the first vocalist to record with the iconic heavy metal band Iron Maiden
, from 1978 to 1981.
In his post-Maiden career, Di'Anno has issued numerous albums over the years, as both a solo artist and as a member of such bands as Gogmagog
, Di'Anno's Battlezone, Praying Mantis
, and Killers.
He was serving a nine month jail sentence, having been convicted in March 2011 for benefit fraud. He has since been released early from prison, having only served two of the nine months he was sentenced to.
, England
— spending his teenage years singing in various rock bands and working as a butcher and chef. He became the band's singer after the departure of the very unpredictable Dennis Wilcock, who had pressured Iron Maiden founder and bassist Steve Harris
into firing every member of the band (including Dave Murray
), before becoming fed up himself. According to Iron Maiden's The Early Days
DVD, he was introduced to the band by drummer Doug Sampson
, an old friend of Harris' from his days in the band 'Smiler'. It was around this time that he first adopted the stage name Di'Anno, which he would later use to claim Italian descent. Their first audition with Rod Smallwood
reputedly failed when Paul was arrested for showing off his pocket-knife in public.
1980's self-titled release
quickly became acknowledged as a classic of its genre, as the band merged punk
's energy with metal
's riffs and progressive rock
complexity, serving as the blueprint for such future genres as thrash metal
and speed metal
. 1981 saw the release of their second album, Killers
, as well as a stopgap live EP, Maiden Japan
. After having cancelled gigs due to Di'Anno's inability and, at times, lack of desire to perform, which has been put down to cocaine abuse and heavy drinking, Iron Maiden decided that to progress they would have to find a singer capable of withstanding the rigours of being on tour. They found a replacement in former Samson
frontman Bruce Dickinson
.
In 1981, Di'Anno left Iron Maiden after a meeting with the band and their manager Rod Smallwood. In Di'Anno's words: "It's like having Mussolini
and Adolf Hitler
run your band. Because it is Rod Smallwood and Steve Harris and that's it. There can't be anyone else and my character is too strong for that so me an' Steve was always fighting".
's version of The Kinks
' "You Really Got Me
" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
"). Having little success, the six-piece band disbanded shortly after they were done touring. The only other recordings available from this band are a single of "Heartuser", a Japanese single of "Flaming Heart" and a Sweden-only VHS
release called Live at the Palace (also available on DVD as Di'Anno Live from London). During the latter performance, the band played an unreleased song entitled "Spiritual Guidance", which Paul told the audience would be on the band's forthcoming album. This album was never recorded.
Last known line-up:
38:1-2), was put together by DJ and record producer Jonathan King
. Gogmagog was a rock opera project. King brought in Di'Anno, drummer Clive Burr
, guitarists Janick Gers
and Pete Willis
along with Neil Murray
on bass. Russ Ballard
wrote the title song with King writing the other two songs and the 3 track EP called "I Will Be There" was recorded. However, although much praised by rock critics, the EP did not chart and the group disbanded.
) and guitarist John Hurley. The project was eventually named Battlezone, after a name straight from a comic book, upon the vocalist's return to Britain in 1985. Paul had previously known Battlezone guitarists John Wiggins and John Hurley from bands such as Deep Machine and Iron Cross.
The band's initial line-up comprised Di'Anno, guitarists Hurley and Darren Aldridge, bassist Laurence Kessler and Adam Parsons on drums. The latter had gone under the stage name A.D. Dynamite whilst in Aunt May. However, Parsons left shortly after to replace Vince Hoare in the London-based glam band Belladonna (formed by former Hell's Belles
vocalist Paul Quigley, with Paul Lewis, Jeff Fox and Neil Criss) and Falck reappeared on the scene in time to record the band's first album Fighting Back
. 1986 also saw the enrollment of former Lonewolf and Tokyo Blade
guitarist John Wiggins.
Battlezone performed a club tour of America in 1987 to promote the début Fighting Back, but musical differences, arguments and physical fights within the band led to the departure of John Hurley and Bob Falck after the first tour. According to Di'Anno's book The Beast, Hurley had become an "egomaniac" and the drummer Falck a "liability", so they were thrown out the band. As Hurley and Flack had been responsible for the writing of Fighting Back in its entirety, there were concerns about this move. Their places were taken by ex-Persian Risk
members Graham Bath and Steve Hopgood respectively, following the tour's completion.
The second album to be released was entitled Children of Madness and achieved considerable commercial success. It featured a track entitled "Metal Tears", which is about a guy who was unable to have a steady relationship and built a female robot who he subsequently fell in love with. The original idea came from a book titled "Clone". However, the track received criticism from the media for being very similar to a track (entitled "London") on Queensryche
's Rage for Order
album.
Guitarist Graham Bath, who had been recruited to play second guitar, wasn't enthusiastic about touring, so he was fired from the band. Peter West, the bassist, recommended a replacement Alf Batz, who joined just in time to go to New York for the video shoot." The video for "I Don't Wanna Know" was played in rotation on MTV
in the US.
Drugs and infighting again put a strain on the band. Towards the end of the final tour, most members had quit leaving Di'Anno to complete the tour with a backing band in order to fulfil his contract.
Subsequently, American guitarist Randy Scott, along with Dave Harman on guitar and Eddie Davidson on bass, signed up with Battlezone. However, the band were without proper management and disbanded shortly after.
Following the breakup of Battlezone, Di'Anno and Hopgood formed the power metal
band Killers releasing four albums. Hurley would later form glam rock
band L.O. Girls and release the "Twelve Bore Honeymoon" single in 1990 and "Just Can't Say I Love You" in 1993. During 1990, Di'Anno fronted Praying Mantis
for a tour of Japan, which was recorded for the subsequent Live At Last album release with ex-Iron Maiden guitarist Dennis Stratton
. Wiggins joined a reformed Tokyo Blade in 1995.
By 1998, Di'Anno had resurrected the name Battlezone. Joining him were Wiggins and fellow ex-Tokyo Blade members bassist Colin Riggs and drummer Marc Angel. Second guitars were supplied by the Brazilian Paulo Turin. This line-up cut the album Feel My Pain, released by the fledgling "Zoom Club" label. Working titles for the album included "Spoon Face" and "Smack", both containing references to heroin use. The album had a heavier edge compared to the first two Battlezone albums. The band undertook a sold-out Brazilian tour in January 1998, with erstwhile Killers colleagues bassist Gavin Cooper and guitarist Nick Burr joining on this South American tour.
The band toured Brazil in the same year playing a three week tour to sold-out audiences up to 6000 fans a night. Being brought back down to earth, Battlezone upon their return home put on a gig at the Walthamstow Royal Standard with an audience of only a hundred or so and a gig at JB's Dudley
in the West Midlands attracting fewer than a dozen fans. A live track from the Walthamstow gig later appeared on a compilation of all three Battlezone albums, entitled Cessation of Hostilities. Ex-Battlezone bassist Gavin Cooper joined Lionsheart in December 2004, then moved onto Statetrooper in May 2005. The bassist subsequently joined the ranks of Magnum
singer Bob Catley
's solo band for UK dates in April 2006.
In mid-2008, a Battlezone compilation entitled The Fight Goes On was released as on the Phantom Sound & Vision label as a 3 CD box set featuring all 3 Battlezone studio albums.
Last known line-up:
Former/past member(s):
, Praying Mantis disbanded. Then, in a Spinal Tap
-ish twist of fate, Paul Di’Anno called Dennis Stratton in 1989, about the Japanese wanting to have a ten-year anniversary of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
. The band found themselves enjoying a renaissance in Tokyo, Japan, prompting a reformation and tour in April 1990, which yielded the Live at Last LP.
. Steve Hopgood, who played in Battlezone with Di'Anno previously, called him and outlined his plans for a new band. Di'Anno flew over to New York from L.A. where they formed a band.
Within a few days, they had hired John Gallagher (from Raven
) to play bass on a short-term basis and an American, Ray De Tone, on second guitar. Shortly afterward, a live album called Assault on South America was recorded, featuring a number of Iron Maiden and Battlezone tracks and covers of "We Will Rock You
" and "Smoke on the Water
". This was recorded primarily for the South American market, as a South American "money guy" was involved who was interested in backing a tour in the region. "Recorded in Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela in Summer of 1993" is splashed on the back cover. However, according to John Gallagher, the South American tour fell thorough so the entire album was recorded on a mobile recording truck in New York. Later, a Canada-based record company called Magnetic Air Productions issued a pirate (bootleg) release worldwide, under a different cover, with no royalties being paid to the band.
Killers then played a showcase for several major record companies including Virgin
, EMI
, Sony and BMG. Representatives flew into New York from all over the world to see Killers play. They played only Iron Maiden songs because the band hadn't written any material. Maiden songs played included "Phantom of the Opera" and "Wrathchild" which evidently impressed a BMG representative enough to give the band a $250,000 contract. BMG were unaware that these songs had been recorded previously.
Once Killers had the record deal, they started to write the first album entitled Murder One. The band moved to Binghamton, where they stayed in a motel in which the owner had a set up rehearsal studio. The album was written in about in two weeks. It took only a further month to get it recorded. The album was recorded at The Powerstation in New York, with the exception of the drums, which were recorded at White Crow Audio (Burlington, Vermont) in half a day.
After the release of Murder One, Di'Anno married an English girl, whom he flew in to New York. Drugs and alcohol took their toll and the marriage quickly fell apart. Di'Anno left New York and moved in with his new American girlfriend in LA. A fight between him and her involving a knife caught the attention of the police, who came into the apartment and arrested him for spousal abuse, cocaine possession and firearms offences. After a court appearance, he was sentenced to four months in the L.A. County Jail. It was here that Di'Anno began writing songs for the next Killers album and posting them over to the UK, where the band were now living.
Di'Anno returned to the UK after being deported. It was here that the band was signed to Bleeding Hearts records located in Newcastle
, where they recorded their second studio album. It was entitled Menace to Society
after a comment made by the L.A. Judge. However, with a Pantera-like style it was poorly received by many critics with the exception of Metal Hammer
magazine in Germany who voted it as the "Best New Album" for that year.
By 2003, Di'Anno and Cliff Evans went on tour as the only original members of Killers remaining. Di'Anno hired new musicians whom he remembered from touring in Germany and Austria. Marcus Thurston joined the band as second guitarist, Darayus Kaye took over bass duties and Pete Newdeck went on drums. Steve Hopgood had to retire as he developed tinnitus in his ears. The guitarist Graham Bath damaged his hands from playing so much over the years and developed arthritis. According to Di'Anno, he wanted Clive Burr
(ex-Iron Maiden) on drums, but he couldn't get to rehearsals in time. Later on, Burr was to become severely ill from multiple sclerosis
.
By 2004, Killers had disbanded. Cliff Evans, the former Killers guitarist and last original member of the band apart from Di'Anno, subsequently formed his own record company called Soundhouse Records and re-released the entire Killers back catalogue with the addition of another live album entitled Killers Live at the Marquee in 2008. Murder One album was reissued with 2 acoustic bonus tracks - "Wrathchild" and "Dreamkeeper". Following this, Paul Di'Anno made both Killers studio albums available for download free of charge through his own website. Following legal action, Evans was forced to cease selling any Killers material on his label.
Last known line-up
Former/past member(s)
during 2000. A new band was created initially under the banner of "Nomad" and featured an all Brazilian line up. It was economically and logistically preferable for Di'Anno to live in Brazil
during this period, in order to tour South America and release a self-produced album pleasing to that particular market. The album was distributed by Perris Records. However, complete worldwide distribution was not achieved.
The album was repackaged and released as The Living Dead. The package included a DVD video for the title track. This was recorded in the East London Docks and directed by Swedish director Mats Lundberg from Doom Films, who went to London to work on the concept with Di'Anno's manager Lea Hart. All of the special effects were added in Sweden and the story line was based on the lyrics and message of the song. Few previously released live Iron Maiden tracks were also added to the CD.
and toured with a new band/project named RockFellas with three Brazilian musicians: Jean Dolabella
(drummer) ex-Diesel/Udora/now in Sepultura
, Marcão (guitarist) ex-Charlie Brown Jr/now in TH6 and Canisso of Raimundos/ex-Rodox, playing rock & roll and metal classics. There, he was nicknamed "Paulo Baiano" ("Paulo" = Paul in Portuguese, Baiano = Who was born in Bahia
)
Paul maintains an extensive world tour schedule including two recent trips through America where traditional metal band, Icarus Witch served as both his opening and backing band.
titled The Beast (ISBN 1-904034-03-9) and has had interludes with various drugs
. The book includes a chapter of stories and comments regarding Di'Anno from former bandmates including Dennis Stratton
, John Wiggins and Steve Hopgood.
, Di'Anno is remembered for having a more guttural "punk
" sound to his singing, in part because he began his singing career in punk band the Paedophiles. Though Di'Anno was able to hit high-notes, he does not typically sing in Dickinson's trademark high tenor range. He usually sang with a raspy and rougher sound, although he was capable of singing with a purer voice as demonstrated by slower numbers like "Remember Tomorrow", "Strange World" and "Prodigal Son". Di'Anno's vocal style has influenced many singers of speed
and thrash metal
bands such as Udo Dirkschneider
of Accept, James Hetfield
of Metallica
, John Bush of Armored Saint
and Anthrax
, Dave Mustaine
of Megadeth
, Tom Araya
of Slayer
, Dave Poole of Copstabber and Phil Anselmo
of Pantera
and Down
.http://www.answers.com/topic/paul-dianno.
Later in his career Di'Anno's style, along with his music, became darker and more aggressive.
and a hotel/restaurant in England
, both of which he sold. He was last resident in Salisbury
, Wiltshire
.
. He has since been released early from prison, having only served two of the nine months he was sentenced to.
. He has a tattoo on the back of his head that says "666
" and "GOD = SUCKER". According to his autobiography, he converted to Islam
in the 1990s after reading the Qur'an
. However he has subsequently reversed that position: 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 fuck. In later interviews Di'Anno clarifies that he never was a true Muslim, that he never stopped drinking, but tried to become a better person by applying some of the Muslim philosophies to his life. Again according to his autobiography, he has claimed to be Muslim, Catholic, Jewish and even Aborigine.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
singer best known as the first vocalist to record with the iconic heavy metal band Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, from 1978 to 1981.
In his post-Maiden career, Di'Anno has issued numerous albums over the years, as both a solo artist and as a member of such bands as Gogmagog
Gogmagog (band)
Gogmagog were a British supergroup put together by British record producer Jonathan King that featured former Iron Maiden members Paul Di'Anno and Clive Burr, former White Spirit and Gillan guitarist Janick Gers , original Def Leppard guitarist Pete Willis, and bassist Neil Murray, who has played...
, Di'Anno's Battlezone, Praying Mantis
Praying Mantis (band)
Praying Mantis are an English rock band. Although a part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, they pursued a musical direction more melodic and AOR-sounding than their contemporaries.-Career:...
, and Killers.
He was serving a nine month jail sentence, having been convicted in March 2011 for benefit fraud. He has since been released early from prison, having only served two of the nine months he was sentenced to.
Iron Maiden (1978–1981)
Di'Anno grew up in ChingfordChingford
Chingford is a district of north east London, bordering on Enfield and Edmonton to the west, Woodford to the east, Walthamstow and Stratford to the south and Essex to the north. It is situated northeast of Charing Cross and forms part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
— spending his teenage years singing in various rock bands and working as a butcher and chef. He became the band's singer after the departure of the very unpredictable Dennis Wilcock, who had pressured Iron Maiden founder and bassist Steve Harris
Steve Harris
Steve Harris may refer to:* Steve Harris , founding member and bassist of the band Iron Maiden* Steve Harris , American film and TV actor* Steve Harris , American basketball player...
into firing every member of the band (including Dave Murray
Dave Murray (musician)
David Michael Murray is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as one of the earliest members of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden.-Biography:...
), before becoming fed up himself. According to Iron Maiden's The Early Days
The Early Days
The Early Days is a DVD video by Iron Maiden, released in 2004. It features the first part of "The History of iron Maiden" series, a 90 minute documentary which describes their beginnings in London's East End in 1975 through to the Piece of Mind album and tour in 1983. The second part of the series...
DVD, he was introduced to the band by drummer Doug Sampson
Doug Sampson
Douglas Gary Sampson was an early drummer for Iron Maiden and first to ever record with the band. He was in the band from 1977 to 1979....
, an old friend of Harris' from his days in the band 'Smiler'. It was around this time that he first adopted the stage name Di'Anno, which he would later use to claim Italian descent. Their first audition with Rod Smallwood
Rod Smallwood
Rod Smallwood, co-manager of the British band Iron Maiden and co-founder in 1976 of then Smallwood-Taylor Enterprises, today Sanctuary Group which is the world's largest music management company. The company was named after the Maiden song by the same name...
reputedly failed when Paul was arrested for showing off his pocket-knife in public.
1980's self-titled release
Iron Maiden (album)
*On the 1998 remastered release, the fade out of "Transylvania" and the intro to "Strange World" were moved to the end of "Transylvania".-Personnel:*Paul Di'Anno – vocals*Dave Murray – guitar*Dennis Stratton – guitar, backing vocals...
quickly became acknowledged as a classic of its genre, as the band merged punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
's energy with metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
's riffs and progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
complexity, serving as the blueprint for such future genres as thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
and speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
. 1981 saw the release of their second album, Killers
Killers (Iron Maiden album)
Killers is the second album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 2 February 1981 in the UK, and 6 June 1981 in the US. The album was their first with guitarist Adrian Smith and their last with vocalist Paul Di'Anno, who was sacked after problems with his stage performance arose due...
, as well as a stopgap live EP, Maiden Japan
Maiden Japan
Maiden Japan, also known as Heavy Metal Army, is a live EP by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The title is a pun of Deep Purple's live album Made in Japan....
. After having cancelled gigs due to Di'Anno's inability and, at times, lack of desire to perform, which has been put down to cocaine abuse and heavy drinking, Iron Maiden decided that to progress they would have to find a singer capable of withstanding the rigours of being on tour. They found a replacement in former Samson
Samson (band)
Samson was a British hard rock band formed in 1977 by guitarist and vocalist Paul Samson. They are best known for their first three albums with future Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, then known as "Bruce Bruce", and drummer Thunderstick , who wore a leather mask and performed on stage in a...
frontman Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
.
In 1981, Di'Anno left Iron Maiden after a meeting with the band and their manager Rod Smallwood. In Di'Anno's words: "It's like having Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
and Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
run your band. Because it is Rod Smallwood and Steve Harris and that's it. There can't be anyone else and my character is too strong for that so me an' Steve was always fighting".
Di'Anno (1983–1985)
Di'Anno was the first project by Paul Di'Anno after he was fired from Iron Maiden. This group was originally called Lonewolf but after disagreement with a group already called Lone Wolf, they changed their name and ended up recording only one album under the simple moniker of Di'Anno. On the tour Paul refused to play any Iron Maiden songs (much to the dismay of the crowd), playing only their own songs and a few other covers (most notably Van HalenVan Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
's version of The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
' "You Really Got Me
You Really Got Me
"You Really Got Me" is a rock song written by Ray Davies and performed by his band, The Kinks. It was released on 4th August 1964 as the group's third single, and reached Number 1 on the UK singles chart the next month, remaining for two weeks...
" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" is a song written by Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell and Sol Marcus for the singer/pianist Nina Simone, who first recorded it in 1964. "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" has been recorded or performed by many artists, and is widely known by the 1965 blues rock hit...
"). Having little success, the six-piece band disbanded shortly after they were done touring. The only other recordings available from this band are a single of "Heartuser", a Japanese single of "Flaming Heart" and a Sweden-only VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
release called Live at the Palace (also available on DVD as Di'Anno Live from London). During the latter performance, the band played an unreleased song entitled "Spiritual Guidance", which Paul told the audience would be on the band's forthcoming album. This album was never recorded.
Last known line-up:
- Paul Di'Anno - lead vocals
- Lee Slater - guitars, vocals
- P.J. Ward - guitars, vocals
- Kevin Browne - bass, vocals
- Mark Venables - keyboards, vocals
Gogmagog (1985)
In 1985, Di'Anno was to work on a project with a number of hired musicians. The group, called "Gogmagog" (see the Biblical book EzekielEzekiel
Ezekiel , "God will strengthen" , is the central protagonist of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible. In Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Ezekiel is acknowledged as a Hebrew prophet...
38:1-2), was put together by DJ and record producer Jonathan King
Jonathan King
Jonathan King is an English singer, songwriter, impresario and record producer. He is also the author of three novels, Bible Two and The Booker Prize Winner , and Beware the Monkey Man , and an autobiography, 65 My Life So Far .King first came to prominence as an...
. Gogmagog was a rock opera project. King brought in Di'Anno, drummer Clive Burr
Clive Burr
Clive Burr is a British drummer, best known as a member of Iron Maiden from 1979 to 1982.-Career:Previously a member of Samson, Burr joined Iron Maiden in 1979...
, guitarists Janick Gers
Janick Gers
Janick Robert Gers is an English musician, best known for being one of the three current guitarists in Iron Maiden, along with Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, as well as his earlier work with Gillan and White Spirit.-Career and Personal Life:...
and Pete Willis
Pete Willis
Pete Willis was one of the original guitarists for the British rock band Def Leppard, until he was replaced by Phil Collen in 1982...
along with Neil Murray
Neil Murray (British musician)
Philip Neil Murray is a Scottish bass player, best known for his work in Whitesnake and Black Sabbath.-Early days:Originally a drummer, Murray formed his first band with school friends in 1967 and his musical tastes were heavily influenced by the mid-1960s 'blues boom' bands and musicians,...
on bass. Russ Ballard
Russ Ballard
Russell Glyn Ballard is an English singer, songwriter and musician.-Career:Ballard was initially a guitarist with Buster Meikle & The Day Breakers in 1961, together with Roy Ballard, Russ's older brother on piano and Bob Henrit on drums...
wrote the title song with King writing the other two songs and the 3 track EP called "I Will Be There" was recorded. However, although much praised by rock critics, the EP did not chart and the group disbanded.
Battlezone (1985–1989, 1998)
After the breakup of his self-titled band, Di'Anno formed Strike whilst in America with drummer Bob Falck (who had used the name Sid Falck while playing drums in OverkillOverkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...
) and guitarist John Hurley. The project was eventually named Battlezone, after a name straight from a comic book, upon the vocalist's return to Britain in 1985. Paul had previously known Battlezone guitarists John Wiggins and John Hurley from bands such as Deep Machine and Iron Cross.
The band's initial line-up comprised Di'Anno, guitarists Hurley and Darren Aldridge, bassist Laurence Kessler and Adam Parsons on drums. The latter had gone under the stage name A.D. Dynamite whilst in Aunt May. However, Parsons left shortly after to replace Vince Hoare in the London-based glam band Belladonna (formed by former Hell's Belles
HellsBelles
Hell's Belles was a heavy metal band from England active from 1984 to 1987. They are considered part of the latter stages of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal .-1980s - Hell's Belles:...
vocalist Paul Quigley, with Paul Lewis, Jeff Fox and Neil Criss) and Falck reappeared on the scene in time to record the band's first album Fighting Back
Fighting Back (Battlezone album)
Fighting Back is the first album released by the British heavy metal band Battlezone, with ex-Iron Maiden singer Paul Di'Anno.-Side One:#"Welcome to the Battlezone" - 3:25#"Running Blind" - 4:44#"Welfare Warriors" - 4:40#"Too Much to Heart" - 4:45...
. 1986 also saw the enrollment of former Lonewolf and Tokyo Blade
Tokyo Blade
Tokyo Blade is an English heavy metal band, active since 1982. Tokyo Blade is one of the many acts considered part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement from the late 1970s / early 1980s. Tokyo Blade went through many changes of formation and disbanded twice, often changing their musical...
guitarist John Wiggins.
Battlezone performed a club tour of America in 1987 to promote the début Fighting Back, but musical differences, arguments and physical fights within the band led to the departure of John Hurley and Bob Falck after the first tour. According to Di'Anno's book The Beast, Hurley had become an "egomaniac" and the drummer Falck a "liability", so they were thrown out the band. As Hurley and Flack had been responsible for the writing of Fighting Back in its entirety, there were concerns about this move. Their places were taken by ex-Persian Risk
Persian Risk
Persian Risk were a heavy metal band from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal era formed in 1979 and hailing from Cardiff, Wales. The brainchild of ex-Stoned Soul Party guitarist Phil Campbell, he recruited vocalist Jon Deverill, second guitarist Dave Bell, bass player Nick Hughes, and drummer Razz...
members Graham Bath and Steve Hopgood respectively, following the tour's completion.
The second album to be released was entitled Children of Madness and achieved considerable commercial success. It featured a track entitled "Metal Tears", which is about a guy who was unable to have a steady relationship and built a female robot who he subsequently fell in love with. The original idea came from a book titled "Clone". However, the track received criticism from the media for being very similar to a track (entitled "London") on Queensryche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
's Rage for Order
Rage for Order
Rage for Order is the second studio album by heavy metal band Queensrÿche, released in 1986 on EMI America Records.-Track listing:- 2003 CD reissue bonus tracks :# "Gonna Get Close to You " - 5:46...
album.
Guitarist Graham Bath, who had been recruited to play second guitar, wasn't enthusiastic about touring, so he was fired from the band. Peter West, the bassist, recommended a replacement Alf Batz, who joined just in time to go to New York for the video shoot." The video for "I Don't Wanna Know" was played in rotation on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
in the US.
Drugs and infighting again put a strain on the band. Towards the end of the final tour, most members had quit leaving Di'Anno to complete the tour with a backing band in order to fulfil his contract.
Subsequently, American guitarist Randy Scott, along with Dave Harman on guitar and Eddie Davidson on bass, signed up with Battlezone. However, the band were without proper management and disbanded shortly after.
Following the breakup of Battlezone, Di'Anno and Hopgood formed the power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Killers releasing four albums. Hurley would later form glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
band L.O. Girls and release the "Twelve Bore Honeymoon" single in 1990 and "Just Can't Say I Love You" in 1993. During 1990, Di'Anno fronted Praying Mantis
Praying Mantis (band)
Praying Mantis are an English rock band. Although a part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, they pursued a musical direction more melodic and AOR-sounding than their contemporaries.-Career:...
for a tour of Japan, which was recorded for the subsequent Live At Last album release with ex-Iron Maiden guitarist Dennis Stratton
Dennis Stratton
Dennis Stratton is a guitar player who is best known as a former member of the British band Iron Maiden from October 1979 to October 1980.-Biography:...
. Wiggins joined a reformed Tokyo Blade in 1995.
By 1998, Di'Anno had resurrected the name Battlezone. Joining him were Wiggins and fellow ex-Tokyo Blade members bassist Colin Riggs and drummer Marc Angel. Second guitars were supplied by the Brazilian Paulo Turin. This line-up cut the album Feel My Pain, released by the fledgling "Zoom Club" label. Working titles for the album included "Spoon Face" and "Smack", both containing references to heroin use. The album had a heavier edge compared to the first two Battlezone albums. The band undertook a sold-out Brazilian tour in January 1998, with erstwhile Killers colleagues bassist Gavin Cooper and guitarist Nick Burr joining on this South American tour.
The band toured Brazil in the same year playing a three week tour to sold-out audiences up to 6000 fans a night. Being brought back down to earth, Battlezone upon their return home put on a gig at the Walthamstow Royal Standard with an audience of only a hundred or so and a gig at JB's Dudley
JB's Dudley
JB's Dudley, usually known simply as JB's, is a nightclub and live music venue located on Castle Hill near the centre of Dudley, West Midlands...
in the West Midlands attracting fewer than a dozen fans. A live track from the Walthamstow gig later appeared on a compilation of all three Battlezone albums, entitled Cessation of Hostilities. Ex-Battlezone bassist Gavin Cooper joined Lionsheart in December 2004, then moved onto Statetrooper in May 2005. The bassist subsequently joined the ranks of Magnum
Magnum (band)
Magnum are a British progressive rock band from Birmingham, England. Formed as a four piece by Tony Clarkin , Bob Catley , Kex Gorin and Bob Doyle in order to appear as the resident band at The Rum Runner night club Birmingham...
singer Bob Catley
Bob Catley
For the Australian politician, see Bob Catley Robert Adrian 'Bob' Catley is a British musician, perhaps best known as the lead singer of the rock band Magnum. He is also an accomplished solo artist.- Early years :...
's solo band for UK dates in April 2006.
In mid-2008, a Battlezone compilation entitled The Fight Goes On was released as on the Phantom Sound & Vision label as a 3 CD box set featuring all 3 Battlezone studio albums.
Last known line-up:
- Paul Di´Anno - Vocals
- Johnny "Bravo" Wiggins - Guitars
- Paulo Turin - Guitars
- Colin Riggs - Bass
- Mark Angel - Drums
Former/past member(s):
- John Hurley - Guitars
- Graham Bath - Guitars
- Alf Batz - Guitars
- Randy Scott - Guitars
- Dave Harman - Guitars
- Peter Vester - Bass
- Eddie Davidson - Bass
- Bob "Sid" Falck - Drums
- Steve Hopgood - Drums
Praying Mantis (1990)
After being dropped by BMGBMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
, Praying Mantis disbanded. Then, in a Spinal Tap
Spinal Tap (band)
Spinal Tap is a parody heavy metal band that first appeared on a failed 1979 ABC TV sketch comedy pilot called "The T.V. Show", starring Rob Reiner...
-ish twist of fate, Paul Di’Anno called Dennis Stratton in 1989, about the Japanese wanting to have a ten-year anniversary of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
. The band found themselves enjoying a renaissance in Tokyo, Japan, prompting a reformation and tour in April 1990, which yielded the Live at Last LP.
Killers (1990–1997, 2001–2003)
Killers was formed back in 1990 or 1991. Cliff Evans was living in New York with the manager of FastwayFastway (band)
Fastway is a British heavy metal band formed by guitarist, "Fast" Eddie Clarke, formerly of Motörhead, and bassist, Pete Way, formerly of UFO.-Career:...
. Steve Hopgood, who played in Battlezone with Di'Anno previously, called him and outlined his plans for a new band. Di'Anno flew over to New York from L.A. where they formed a band.
Within a few days, they had hired John Gallagher (from Raven
Raven (band)
Raven are an English heavy metal band associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. They had a hit with the single "On and On", and refer to their music as "athletic rock".-Formation:...
) to play bass on a short-term basis and an American, Ray De Tone, on second guitar. Shortly afterward, a live album called Assault on South America was recorded, featuring a number of Iron Maiden and Battlezone tracks and covers of "We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You
"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA placed it at #146 on its list of Songs of the Century...
" and "Smoke on the Water
Smoke on the Water
"Smoke on the Water" is a song by the British hard rock band Deep Purple. It was first released on their 1972 album Machine Head. In 2004, the song was ranked number 426 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, and in March 2005, Q magazine placed "Smoke on the Water"...
". This was recorded primarily for the South American market, as a South American "money guy" was involved who was interested in backing a tour in the region. "Recorded in Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela in Summer of 1993" is splashed on the back cover. However, according to John Gallagher, the South American tour fell thorough so the entire album was recorded on a mobile recording truck in New York. Later, a Canada-based record company called Magnetic Air Productions issued a pirate (bootleg) release worldwide, under a different cover, with no royalties being paid to the band.
Killers then played a showcase for several major record companies including Virgin
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, Sony and BMG. Representatives flew into New York from all over the world to see Killers play. They played only Iron Maiden songs because the band hadn't written any material. Maiden songs played included "Phantom of the Opera" and "Wrathchild" which evidently impressed a BMG representative enough to give the band a $250,000 contract. BMG were unaware that these songs had been recorded previously.
Once Killers had the record deal, they started to write the first album entitled Murder One. The band moved to Binghamton, where they stayed in a motel in which the owner had a set up rehearsal studio. The album was written in about in two weeks. It took only a further month to get it recorded. The album was recorded at The Powerstation in New York, with the exception of the drums, which were recorded at White Crow Audio (Burlington, Vermont) in half a day.
After the release of Murder One, Di'Anno married an English girl, whom he flew in to New York. Drugs and alcohol took their toll and the marriage quickly fell apart. Di'Anno left New York and moved in with his new American girlfriend in LA. A fight between him and her involving a knife caught the attention of the police, who came into the apartment and arrested him for spousal abuse, cocaine possession and firearms offences. After a court appearance, he was sentenced to four months in the L.A. County Jail. It was here that Di'Anno began writing songs for the next Killers album and posting them over to the UK, where the band were now living.
Di'Anno returned to the UK after being deported. It was here that the band was signed to Bleeding Hearts records located in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, where they recorded their second studio album. It was entitled Menace to Society
Menace to Society
Menace to Society is the second studio album by the heavy metal band Killers, featuring former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di'Anno.-Track listing:#"Advance and Be Recognised" - 1:06#"Die by the Gun" - 4:01#"Menace to Society" - 2:51#"?" - 5:04...
after a comment made by the L.A. Judge. However, with a Pantera-like style it was poorly received by many critics with the exception of Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
magazine in Germany who voted it as the "Best New Album" for that year.
By 2003, Di'Anno and Cliff Evans went on tour as the only original members of Killers remaining. Di'Anno hired new musicians whom he remembered from touring in Germany and Austria. Marcus Thurston joined the band as second guitarist, Darayus Kaye took over bass duties and Pete Newdeck went on drums. Steve Hopgood had to retire as he developed tinnitus in his ears. The guitarist Graham Bath damaged his hands from playing so much over the years and developed arthritis. According to Di'Anno, he wanted Clive Burr
Clive Burr
Clive Burr is a British drummer, best known as a member of Iron Maiden from 1979 to 1982.-Career:Previously a member of Samson, Burr joined Iron Maiden in 1979...
(ex-Iron Maiden) on drums, but he couldn't get to rehearsals in time. Later on, Burr was to become severely ill from multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
.
By 2004, Killers had disbanded. Cliff Evans, the former Killers guitarist and last original member of the band apart from Di'Anno, subsequently formed his own record company called Soundhouse Records and re-released the entire Killers back catalogue with the addition of another live album entitled Killers Live at the Marquee in 2008. Murder One album was reissued with 2 acoustic bonus tracks - "Wrathchild" and "Dreamkeeper". Following this, Paul Di'Anno made both Killers studio albums available for download free of charge through his own website. Following legal action, Evans was forced to cease selling any Killers material on his label.
Last known line-up
- Paul Di'Anno - Vocals (Di'Anno, ex-Battlezone, ex-Gogmagog (UK), ex-Iron Maiden)
- Cliff Evans - Guitars (Chicken Shack, Headfirst, Tank)
- Graham Bath - Guitars (Persian Risk, Sphinx)
- Brad Wiseman - Bass
- Steve Hopgood - Drums (ex-Battlezone, ex-Chinatown, ex-Jagged Edge, Persian Risk, Shy, Tank, Wild)
Former/past member(s)
- John GallagherRaven (band)Raven are an English heavy metal band associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. They had a hit with the single "On and On", and refer to their music as "athletic rock".-Formation:...
- Bass (1991–1992) (RavenRaven (band)Raven are an English heavy metal band associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. They had a hit with the single "On and On", and refer to their music as "athletic rock".-Formation:...
) - Ray Ditone - Guitars (1991–1992)
- Nick Burr - Guitars (1992) (ex-Battlezone, ex-Idol Rich, ex-Tyrant, now Bad Back Band)
- Gavin Cooper - Bass (1992–1994) (ex-Battlezone)
Nomad /Di'Anno (1999–2001, 2003–2008)
Following the demise of the new Battlezone unit put together in 1998, Di'Anno teamed up with expat Brazilian guitarist Paulo Turin and lived in São PauloSão Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
during 2000. A new band was created initially under the banner of "Nomad" and featured an all Brazilian line up. It was economically and logistically preferable for Di'Anno to live in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
during this period, in order to tour South America and release a self-produced album pleasing to that particular market. The album was distributed by Perris Records. However, complete worldwide distribution was not achieved.
The album was repackaged and released as The Living Dead. The package included a DVD video for the title track. This was recorded in the East London Docks and directed by Swedish director Mats Lundberg from Doom Films, who went to London to work on the concept with Di'Anno's manager Lea Hart. All of the special effects were added in Sweden and the story line was based on the lyrics and message of the song. Few previously released live Iron Maiden tracks were also added to the CD.
RockFellas: 2008-2010
Late 2008, Di'anno relocated to the southeast of BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and toured with a new band/project named RockFellas with three Brazilian musicians: Jean Dolabella
Jean Dolabella
Jean Dolabella is the former drummer of Brazilian thrash metal band Sepultura. He is also involved with Iron Maiden's Paul Di'Anno in his side project RockFellas.- Biography :...
(drummer) ex-Diesel/Udora/now in Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
, Marcão (guitarist) ex-Charlie Brown Jr/now in TH6 and Canisso of Raimundos/ex-Rodox, playing rock & roll and metal classics. There, he was nicknamed "Paulo Baiano" ("Paulo" = Paul in Portuguese, Baiano = Who was born in Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
)
Present
Di'Anno was, before being jailed in March 2011, recording a new solo album with Paulo Turin, the guitarist who worked on Feel My Pain and Nomad. The album was being produced by Dieter Roth in his studio in Germany. However, work on the album ceased due to record company problems.Paul maintains an extensive world tour schedule including two recent trips through America where traditional metal band, Icarus Witch served as both his opening and backing band.
The Beast
Di'Anno has released a autobiographyAutobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
titled The Beast (ISBN 1-904034-03-9) and has had interludes with various drugs
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
. The book includes a chapter of stories and comments regarding Di'Anno from former bandmates including Dennis Stratton
Dennis Stratton
Dennis Stratton is a guitar player who is best known as a former member of the British band Iron Maiden from October 1979 to October 1980.-Biography:...
, John Wiggins and Steve Hopgood.
Singing style
In comparison to the soaring, operatic vocals of his successor in Iron MaidenBruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
, Di'Anno is remembered for having a more guttural "punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
" sound to his singing, in part because he began his singing career in punk band the Paedophiles. Though Di'Anno was able to hit high-notes, he does not typically sing in Dickinson's trademark high tenor range. He usually sang with a raspy and rougher sound, although he was capable of singing with a purer voice as demonstrated by slower numbers like "Remember Tomorrow", "Strange World" and "Prodigal Son". Di'Anno's vocal style has influenced many singers of speed
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
and thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
bands such as Udo Dirkschneider
Udo Dirkschneider
Udo Dirkschneider is a German heavy metal singer who is best known as the vocalist in German heavy metal band Accept and later U.D.O.After leaving Accept in 1987, Dirkschneider formed the band U.D.O....
of Accept, James Hetfield
James Hetfield
James Alan Hetfield is the rhythm guitarist, co-founder, main songwriter, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler,...
of Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, John Bush of Armored Saint
Armored Saint
-Early career:Armored Saint was formed in 1982 by brothers Phil Sandoval and Gonzo Sandoval , and guitarist David Prichard, while attending South Pasadena High School. Next to join were singer John Bush also a South Pasadena High School Alumni and bassist Joey Vera...
and Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
of Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, Tom Araya
Tom Araya
Tom Araya is a Chilean musician, best known as the bassist and vocalist of the American thrash metal band Slayer...
of Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, Dave Poole of Copstabber and Phil Anselmo
Phil Anselmo
Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman for the Louisiana-based metal act Down. He is also the owner of Housecore Records....
of Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
and Down
Down (band)
Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders and drummer Jimmy Bower. Since their formation, Down has gone on hiatus twice...
.http://www.answers.com/topic/paul-dianno.
Later in his career Di'Anno's style, along with his music, became darker and more aggressive.
Other interests
Di'Anno has had several businesses outside of the music industry, including an internet cafeInternet cafe
An Internet café or cybercafé is a place which provides internet access to the public, usually for a fee. These businesses usually provide snacks and drinks, hence the café in the name...
and a hotel/restaurant in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, both of which he sold. He was last resident in Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
Benefit fraud conviction
In February 2011 Di'Anno was convicted by on eight counts of benefit fraud for claiming more than £45,000 under false pretences. On 11 March 2011, he was jailed for nine months at Salisbury. Crown CourtCrown Court
The Crown Court of England and Wales is, together with the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, one of the constituent parts of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
. He has since been released early from prison, having only served two of the nine months he was sentenced to.
Religion
Di'Anno's religious affiliation is made uncertain by his own words; he has given interviews that contradict each other on this subject, perhaps as a practical jokePractical joke
A practical joke is a mischievous trick played on someone, typically causing the victim to experience embarrassment, indignity, or discomfort. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks in that the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke, rather than being fooled into handing over money or...
. He has a tattoo on the back of his head that says "666
Number of the Beast
The Number of the Beast is a term in the Book of Revelation, of the New Testament, that is associated with the first Beast of Revelation chapter 13, the Beast of the sea. In most manuscripts of the New Testament and in English translations of the Bible, the number of the Beast is...
" and "GOD = SUCKER". According to his autobiography, he converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in the 1990s after reading the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
. However he has subsequently reversed that position: 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 fuck. In later interviews Di'Anno clarifies that he never was a true Muslim, that he never stopped drinking, but tried to become a better person by applying some of the Muslim philosophies to his life. Again according to his autobiography, he has claimed to be Muslim, Catholic, Jewish and even Aborigine.
Band timeline
Note: List excludes Di'Anno's many guest appearances on tribute albums.- Iron Maiden (1978–1981)
- Di'Anno (1983–1985)
- Gogmagog (1985)
- Paul Di'Anno's Battlezone (1986–1989)
- Praying Mantis (1990)
- Killers a.k.a. Paul Di'Anno's Killers a.k.a. Paul Di' Anno & Killers (1990–1997)
- The Original Iron Men (1995–1996)
- Paul Di'Anno (1997)
- Paul Di'Anno's Battlezone (1997–1998)
- The Almighty Inbredz (1999)
- Paul Di'Anno (1999–2000)
- Di' Anno (2000)
- Paul Di'Anno's Killers a.k.a. Paul Di' Anno & Killers (2001–2003)
- Paul Di'Anno (2003–2005)
- Paul Di'Anno & Children of the Damned (2002–present)
- Paul Di' Anno & The Phantoms of the Opera (2005–present)
with Iron Maiden
- The Soundhouse TapesThe Soundhouse Tapes- Credits :*Paul Di'Anno - vocals*Dave Murray - guitar*Steve Harris - bass guitar*Doug Sampson - drums...
(1979) - Live!! +oneLive!! +one-Greek release:-Personnel:*Paul Di'Anno – lead vocals*Dave Murray – guitar*Dennis Stratton - guitar, backing vocals *Adrian Smith – guitar, backing vocals...
(1980) - Iron MaidenIron Maiden (album)*On the 1998 remastered release, the fade out of "Transylvania" and the intro to "Strange World" were moved to the end of "Transylvania".-Personnel:*Paul Di'Anno – vocals*Dave Murray – guitar*Dennis Stratton – guitar, backing vocals...
(1980) - KillersKillers (Iron Maiden album)Killers is the second album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 2 February 1981 in the UK, and 6 June 1981 in the US. The album was their first with guitarist Adrian Smith and their last with vocalist Paul Di'Anno, who was sacked after problems with his stage performance arose due...
(1981) - Maiden JapanMaiden JapanMaiden Japan, also known as Heavy Metal Army, is a live EP by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The title is a pun of Deep Purple's live album Made in Japan....
(also known as Heavy Metal Army) (1981)
with Di'Anno
- Di'AnnoDi'Anno (album)Di'Anno is the 1984 self-titled album of the band of the same name. The lead singer Paul DiAnno had been the frontman of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden for five years, before being dismissed for his erratic behaviour...
, 1984- "Flaming Heart", 1984
- "Heartuser", 1984
- Nomad, 2000
Solo
- The World's First Iron Man, 1997
- As Hard as Iron, 1997
- Beyond the Maiden (The Best Of), 1999
- The Masters, 1999
- The Living Dead, (a re-release of Nomad with bonus tracks), 2006
- The Maiden Years - The Classics 2006
- Iron Maiden Days and Evil Nights 2007
- The Early Iron Maiden Songbook 2010
with Battlezone
- Fighting BackFighting Back (Battlezone album)Fighting Back is the first album released by the British heavy metal band Battlezone, with ex-Iron Maiden singer Paul Di'Anno.-Side One:#"Welcome to the Battlezone" - 3:25#"Running Blind" - 4:44#"Welfare Warriors" - 4:40#"Too Much to Heart" - 4:45...
, 1986 - Children of MadnessChildren Of Madness (Paul Di'Anno album)Children of Madness is the second album by Paul Di'Anno's Battlezone. It was released in 1987.-Side One:#"Rip It Up" - 2:44#"Overloaded" - 3:16#"Nuclear Breakdown" - 4:48#"Torch of Hate" - 2:58#"Children of Madness" - 5:17-Side Two:...
, 1987 - WarchildWarchild (Paul Di'Anno album)Warchild is a collection of songs from the two previous albums by Paul Di'Anno's Battlezone. Two songs had not been published on any previous Battlezone albums....
, 1988 - Feel My PainFeel My Pain (Paul Di'Anno album)Feel My Pain is the third latest studio album with new material from the band Battlezone, with ex-Iron Maiden singer, Paul Di'Anno.The album was released in 1998, 10 years after the collection Warchild was released.-Track listing:...
, 1998 - Cessation of Hostilities, 2001 (Compilation with all three studio albums Battlezone released + Children of madness demo tracks and one new live track)
- The Fight Goes On, 2008 (Boxset including all three Battlezone studio albums)
with Killers
- Murder One, 1992
- Menace to SocietyMenace to SocietyMenace to Society is the second studio album by the heavy metal band Killers, featuring former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di'Anno.-Track listing:#"Advance and Be Recognised" - 1:06#"Die by the Gun" - 4:01#"Menace to Society" - 2:51#"?" - 5:04...
, 1994 - Live, 1997
- New Live & Rare, 1998
- Killers Live at the WhiskeyKillers Live at the WhiskeyKillers Live at the Whiskey is a live album by former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di'Anno and his band Killers. The album was apparently recorded at the Whisky a Go Go club in Los Angeles however it is suspected that it was recorded in the studio with crowd noise mixed in the recording. The exact...
, 2001 - Screaming Blue Murder - The Very Best of Paul Di'Anno's Killers, 2002
with Dennis Stratton
- The Original Iron Men (1995)
- The Original Iron Men 2 (1996)
- As Hard As Iron (1996)
Other projects and compilations featuring Paul Di'Anno
- Metal for Muthas, 1980 (with Iron Maiden)
- All Stars NWOBHM, 1990
- True Brits, 1993
- True Brits 2, 1994
- True Brits 3, 1995
- Killer Voices, 1995
- Metal Monsters, 1996
- Metal Christmas a.k.a The 21st Century Rock Christmas Album, 1996
- The Almighty Inbredz, 1999
- Classic Rock, Classic Rockers, 2002
- "Tribute to Van HalenVan HalenVan Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
," 2006 - Invited guest appearance in the song Atlantis from the upcoming 2011 album with the same name, from the Portuguese Heavy-Metal band Attick Demons
- Invited guest appearance on the upcoming Wolfpakk album