Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith recently shared his thoughts about the late Paul Di’Anno’s departure from the band. He suggested that the former vocalist may have felt relieved to leave due to mounting pressure. Smith’s comments were featured in a new interview with Rolling Stone.
Smith reflected on Di’Anno’s experience with the band and the challenges he faced during his time as Iron Maiden’s frontman.
“Paul (Di’Anno), I think, felt the pressure a lot. He used to lose his voice quite a bit,” Smith said. “My impression of him when I joined was that he was a happy-go-lucky guy. He didn’t strike me as a hard, ambitious guy. He just liked having fun.”
The guitarist went on to explain his belief about Di’Anno’s feelings regarding his exit from the band.
“So I think he was almost relieved when he left the band. I hope Paul had some happiness in his life after Maiden,” Smith continued.
Smith’s reflections on Di’Anno take on added poignancy given the former vocalist’s recent passing and his remarkable resilience throughout his post-Iron Maiden career.
The LA Times reported that Paul Di’Anno died on October 21, 2024, at age 66 from an aortic dissection causing heart failure. His sisters confirmed the autopsy results, revealing that a tear in the sac around the heart allowed blood from the main aorta artery to fill it. This stopped the heart instantaneously.
Despite leaving Iron Maiden in 1981, Di’Anno maintained an active and prolific career in heavy metal music. He released solo albums and fronted several bands including Gogmagog, Di’Anno’s Battlezone, Paul Di’Anno’s Killers, Rockfellas, and Warhorse. This proved that his passion for music never diminished after his departure from the legendary band.
The former Iron Maiden frontman faced significant health challenges in his later years. These included sepsis in 2015 that weakened his immune system and mobility problems that required him to use a wheelchair. MetalTalk noted that despite these severe health issues and knee surgery that was funded partly by Iron Maiden, Di’Anno performed over 100 shows since 2023. This demonstrated his unwavering dedication to his craft.
The relationship between Di’Anno and his former bandmates remained positive throughout the years. In 2023, Di’Anno expressed gratitude for Iron Maiden’s help with a lung abscess treatment. This underscored the supportive ties that continued long after his departure from the band. This ongoing support from Iron Maiden suggests that Smith’s hope for Di’Anno’s happiness after leaving the band was shared by the entire group.
These comments provide insight into the dynamics within Iron Maiden during Di’Anno’s tenure. They offer a personal perspective on the circumstances surrounding his departure from the legendary metal band.
