Iron Maiden lead singer Paul Di’Anno, 66, died on Oct. 21, after years of poor health. Di’Anno had a strong, screamy, Janis Joplin-like voice, which carried him through Iron Maiden from 1978-81. He also sang with such delightfully named groups as Gogmagog, Killers, Rockfellas, Warhorse, and Praying Mantis. He recalled auditioning for Iron Maiden to interviewer Jeff Gaudiosi: “A friend of mine said, ‘Maiden are looking for a singer, would I like to try out?’ I was more interested in punk music, to be honest with you. But I went down there to go, made up the lyrics for a cover of a song ‘Dealer’ by Deep Purple, had a go at that. So he come round to my house late one evening and said, ‘Paul, you want it?’ So I’m like, ‘Yeah, okay.’ I wasn’t that bothered to be honest with you. It was only when I went round Steve’s [Harris] house a couple of weeks later, and he played me all the stuff that was going to be on the first Iron Maiden album that I thought, ‘Wow, this is fantastic.’”
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