Mikael Åkerfeldt, leader of Opeth, paid tribute to Paul Di’Anno, the former singer of Iron Maiden, who died last October at the age of 66. The Swedish artist shared his thoughts on the band’s social media channels, highlighting Di’Anno’s significant impact on Metal and Opeth’s music.
A heartfelt tribute to a metal legend
In his message published on January 8, Mikael Åkerfeldt wrote: “Paul Di’Anno 1958-2024. Rest in peace. His influence on metal music and Opeth cannot be understated. I often debated with my friend Jonas Renkse [Katatonia] to find out who was the best singer in Iron Maiden. Where Bruce Dickinson is a real ‘alarm siren’, Paul had a particular sensitivity in his voice, like in Prodigal Son or Remember Tomorrow.”
Åkerfeldt also spoke about the raw power of the album Killers : “This is one of the best Heavy Metal records ever released. I never had the opportunity to meet Paul, although he stood in front of me in a queue at the airport. I was too impressed to say hello.”
Also read: “Embrace the future of music”: Patrick Mameli (Pestilence) defends the use of AI for album covers
-A career marked by audacity and resilience
Paul Di’Anno, real name Paul Andrews, was the voice of Iron Maiden between 1978 and 1981, marking the group’s first two albums, Iron Maiden et Killersin his inimitable style. After leaving, he went on to have a prolific career, collaborating with Battlezone, Killers, and most recently Warhorse.
Despite serious health issues that have forced him to perform from a wheelchair in recent years, Di’Anno has continued to ignite stages around the world, with over 100 concerts since 2023. In September 2024, he released The Book Of The Beasta retrospective of his career, while his latest project, Warhorse, saw the light of day in 2022 with the album Warhorsereleased in July 2024.
The last moments of Paul Di’Anno
Paul Di’Anno died on October 21, 2024 at his home in Salisbury. According to a statement from his family, the cause of his death was linked to a tear in the membrane surrounding the heart, causing fatal hemorrhage.
