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Encyclopedia > Paul Di'Anno
Paul Di'Anno
Background information
Birth name Paul Andrews
Born May 17, 1958(1958-05-17) (age 49)
Flag of England Chingford, Essex, England
Genre(s) Heavy metal
Hard rock
Occupation(s) Musician
Instrument(s) Vocals
Years active 1978 – present
Associated
acts
Iron Maiden
Battlezone
Gogmagog
Killers
Website Official Website

Paul Andrews (born 17 May 1958, in Chingford, Essex), better known as Paul Di'Anno, was the first prominent vocalist in the band Iron Maiden from 1978 to 1981. is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... Chingford is a town in London Borough of Waltham Forest. ... Essex is a county in the East of England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... “Heavy metal” redirects here. ... “Hard Rock” redirects here. ... “Instrumentalist” redirects here. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the band. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Chingford is a town in London Borough of Waltham Forest. ... Essex is a county in the East of England. ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... This article is about the band. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ...


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, Battlezone, Praying Mantis, and Killers. This article is in need of attention. ...


In the mid-'90s, rumours began to surface that Di'Anno might be rejoining Maiden (after the exit of Dickinson in 1993), but the speculation proved to be false, as Maiden hooked up with former Wolfsbane vocalist Blaze Bayley, before reuniting with Dickinson in 1999. Species See text Aconitum is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. ... Blaze Bayley Blaze Bayley (born Bayley Alexander Cook[1], 29 May 1963, Birmingham, England) is the lead singer for the heavy metal band, Blaze. ...


By the dawn of the new millennium, Di'Anno was living in Brazil, still playing music and releasing his latest solo album, Living Dead, in 2006.


Paul has had several businesses outside of the music industry which have included an internet cafe and a hotel/restaurant in England, which he has now sold. For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...


He currently lives in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. For other uses, see Salisbury (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

Contents

Iron Maiden (1978-1981)

Di'Anno became the band's singer after the departure of the very unpredictable Dennis Wilcock who had pressured Harris into firing every member of Maiden (including Dave Murray) before becoming fed up himself. According to Iron Maiden's The Early Days DVD he was introduced into the band by drummer Doug Sampson, an old friend of Steve's from his days in Smiler. Their first audition with Rod Smallwood reputedly failed when Paul was arrested for showing off his pocket-knife in public. Dennis Willcock was an early singer for the band Iron Maiden. ... David Michael Murray (born December 23, 1958 in Edmonton, London) is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as one of the original members of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. ... Doug Sampson was the third drummer for Iron Maiden. ... Rod Smallwood, co-manager of heavy metal band, Iron Maiden and co-founder in 1976 of Sanctuary Records, now the worlds largest music management company. ...


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. Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by its signature high speed and aggression. ... Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal that spawned in the early 1980s and was the direct musical progenitor of thrash metal[1] [2]. When Speed metal first emerged as a genre, it innovatively increased the tempo of the music template set forth by Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin... For the Kiss album, see Killers (Kiss album). ... Alternate cover Alternate Venezuelan cover Maiden Japan, also known as Heavy Metal Army, is a live EP by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...


In 1981 he left Iron Maiden after a meeting between him and the band and its 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". Rod Smallwood, co-manager of heavy metal band, Iron Maiden and co-founder in 1976 of Sanctuary Records, now the worlds largest music management company. ...


Di'Anno (1983-1985)

Di'Anno was the first project by Paul Di'Anno after he left Iron Maiden. This group was originally called Lonewolf but after certain disagreements 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. After minimal success, the six piece band disbanded shortly after they were done touring. The only other items available from this band are a single of "Heartuser", a single Japanese release of "Flaming Heart" and a Sweden VHS release called "Live at the Palace" (today in DVD as "Di'Anno Live From London").


Gogmagog (1985)

In 1985, Di'Anno was to work on a project with a number of hired musicians. The group, called "Gogmagog", 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 was hired to write some songs and a 3 track EP called "I Will Be There" was recorded. However, the EP was not released until after the group had disbanded. The three songs are only demos to be part of an album in which many more songs were written but never recorded. Jonathan King (born Kenneth George King, 6 December 1944, London, England) is a British singer, songwriter, TV personality, and pop music producer. ... Clive Burr (b. ... Janick Robert Gers (born January 27, 1957 in Hartlepool, England) is one of three current guitarists in the heavy metal band Iron Maiden and a songwriter for the band. ... Pete Willis was one of the original guitarists for the rock band Def Leppard. ... Neil Murray is a bassist who has played with over 30 bands including Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, and Gogmagog. ... For an Englishman who was born and still lives in the heart of the British countryside, Russ Ballad has certainly made his presence felt around the globe. ...


Battlezone (1985-1989, 1998)

After the break up 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 Overkill) and guitarist John Hurley, but the project eventually wound up as BATTLEZONE upon the vocalist's return to Britain. [1]


The band's initial line-up comprised of 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 form the London based Glam troupe "Belladonna" 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 Falk 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.

Children Of Madness LP Cover

The second album to be released was entitled "Children of Madness" and achieved considerable commercial success. 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. Image File history File links Battlezone. ... Image File history File links Battlezone. ...


Following the break up of Battlezone, Di'Anno and Hopgood formed 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 Paulo Turin. This line up cut the 'Feel My Pain' album, 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 sell out Brazilian tour in January of 1998 with erstwhile Killers colleagues bassist Gavin Cooper and guitarist Nick Burr joined him 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 JBS 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 of 2005. The bassist subsequently joined the ranks of Magnum singer Bob Catley's solo band for UK dates in April 2006.


Killers (1990-1997, 2001-2003)

Killers was formed back in 1990 or in 1991. Cliff Evans was living in New York with the manager of Fastway. Steve Hopgood, who played in Battlezone with Paul called him and said “Let’s get something together”. Paul was contacted and he flew over to New York from LA 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. Within a few days, 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. [2] "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. [3]. Later, a Canada-based record company called Magnetic Air Productions was to issue 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 a studio upstate of New York "in the middle of nowhere". 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 given finishing touches at The Powerstation in New York.


After the release of Murder One, Paul married an English girl whom he flew in to New York. Drink and drugs took their toll and the marriage quickly fell apart. Paul left New York and moved in with his new American girlfriend in LA. A fight between him and his new girlfriend involving a knife alerted the attention of the LAPD, who came into the apartment and arrested him for spousal abuse, cocaine possession and firearms offences. After a court appearance, he was sentenced to 4 months in the LA 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.


Paul Di'Anno returned to the UK after being deported. It was here that he signed the band to Bleeding Hearts records located in Newcastle and they recorded their second studio album. It was entitled "Menace To Society" after a comment made by the LA 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, Paul and Cliff were to tour as the only original members of Killers remaining. Paul then hired new musicians who he remembered from touring in Germany and Austria. Marcus Thurston was to join the band as second guitarist, Darayus Kaye took over bass duties and Pete Newdeck on drums. Steve 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. [4]According to Di'Anno he had wanted Clive Burr (ex-Iron Maiden) to drum but he couldn't get to rehearsals in time. However, later on Clive was to become severely ill from Multiple Sclerosis.


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 Weiseman - Bass
  • Steve Hopgood - Drums (ex-Battlezone, ex-Chinatown, ex-Jagged Edge, Persian Risk, Shy, Tank, Wild)

Former/past member(s)

  • John Gallagher - Bass (1991-92) (Raven (UK)
  • Ray Ditone - Guitars (1991-92)
  • Nick Burr - Guitars (1992) (ex-Battlezone)
  • Gavin Cooper - Bass (1992-94) (ex-Battlezone)

Nomad /Di'Anno 1999-2001, 2003-2007)

Following the demise of the new Battlezone unit put together in 1998, Di'Anno teamed up with expat Brazillian guitarist Paulo Turin and lived in Sao Paulo during 2000. A new band was created initially under the banner of "Nomad" and featured an all Brazillian line up. It was economically and logistically preferable for Di'Anno to live in Brazil during this period 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. Consequently, the album was repackaged and released as "The Living Dead", having shot a DVD video for the title track in the East London Docks. A few previously released live Iron Maiden tracks were also added to the CD.


The Beast

Di'Anno has released a biography titled The Beast (ISBN 1-904034-03-9) and has allegedly had interludes with various drugs. At one stage he was imprisoned for manslaughter.[citation needed] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the institution. ...


Singing style

In comparison to his successor in Iron Maiden, Di'Anno is remembered for having a more "punk" sound to his singing. Though Di'Anno was able to hit high-notes, his overall scale was not as broad as that of Dickinson. Though he typically sang with a raspy sound, he was capable of singing with a more clean voice as demonstrated by slower numbers like Remember Tomorrow, Strange World and Prodigal Son. Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ...


His vocal style would later be highly influential in the thrash metal genre, with thrash and post-thrash vocalists such as James Hetfield, Phil Anselmo, Tom Araya, and Dave Mustaine citing him as an influence. [5] Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by its signature high speed and aggression. ... Groove metal, half-thrash, or post-thrash is a subgenre of thrash metal which took its current form during the early 1990s. ... James Alan Hetfield (born 3 August 1963, Downey, California[1]) is the main songwriter, lead vocalist, guitarist and a founding member of the American thrash/heavy metal band Metallica. ... Philip Hansen Anselmo (born June 30, 1968 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a heavy metal vocalist and musician, currently performing with Down. ... Tom Araya (born Tomás Enrique Araya June 6, 1961 in Valparaíso, Chile) is the bassist and lead vocalist of the American thrash metal band Slayer. ... David Scott Mustaine (born September 13, 1961 in La Mesa, California, United States) is the lead/rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and singer for the speed/thrash metal band, Megadeth. ...


Later in his career Di'Anno's style, along with his music, became darker and more aggressive.


Religion

Di'Anno is an atheist, and has a tattoo that says "666" and "GOD = SUCKER" on the back of his head. According to his autobiography, he converted to Islam in the 1990s after reading the Koran. However he has subsequently admitted: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. [6]. 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. According to his autobiography, he has claimed to be Muslim, Catholic and even Aborigine. “Atheist” redirects here. ... The Number of the Beast is a concept from the Book of Revelation of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ...


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 (1985 - 1989)
  • Killers (1990 - 1997)
  • Paul Di'Anno (1997)
  • Batttlezone (1998)
  • Paul Di'Anno (1999 - 2001)
  • Paul Di'Anno's Killers (2001 - 2003)
  • Paul Di'Anno (2006)

Discography

with Iron Maiden

The Soundhouse Tapes is an EP by Iron Maiden. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Live!! +one is a live EP that was initially released only in Japan on November 1980 by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... For the Kiss album, see Killers (Kiss album). ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Alternate cover Alternate Venezuelan cover Maiden Japan, also known as Heavy Metal Army, is a live EP by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ...

with Di'Anno

DiAnno is the self-titled album of the band of the same name. ... This article is about the year. ... This article is about the year. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ...

Solo

  • The World's First Iron Man, 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

For the band, see 1997 (band). ... This article is about the year. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

with Battlezone

  • Fighting Back, 1986
  • Children of Madness, 1987
  • Warchild, 1988
  • Feel My Pain, 1998
  • Cessation of Hostilities, 2001

Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

with Killers

Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... The opening convenience store murder scene in Menace II Society Menace II Society is a 1993 drama film starring Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate and Jada Pinkett Smith. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

with Gogmagog

I Will Be There is an EP produced by the British hard rock band Gogmagog. ... This article is about the year. ...

with Dennis Stratton

  • The Original Iron Men (1995)
  • The Original Iron Men 2 (1996)
  • As Hard As Iron (1996)

Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

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 Halen," 2006

Van Halen is an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California in 1972. ...

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Metal Reviews - Metal Coven Webzine - Metal Reviews - Paul Dianno - The Living Dead (505 words)
Paul Dianno was, in my humble estimation, the best singer for Iron Maiden.
That is due in large part to Paul Dianno's vocals that helped define the NWOBHM movement as it entered and helped dominate the underground music scene in the United States in the early 80s.
Some awesome riffing and lyrics are what helps keep Paul Dianno a driving force in heavy metal for any generation.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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