JUST IN🌏Watch Bruce Dickinson’s stirring remembrance of Paul Di’Anno during Iron Maiden’s performance in..
Bruce Dickinson, the leader of Iron Maiden, paid a moving homage to the late great Paul Di’Anno at the band’s performance in Minnesota on Tuesday, October 22.
Bruce Dickinson, the leader of Iron Maiden, paid a moving homage to the late great Paul Di’Anno at the band’s performance in Minnesota on Tuesday, October 22.
Paul Di’Anno, real name Paul Andrews, fronted Iron Maiden on their epoch-making first two albums ‘Iron Maiden’ and ‘Killers.’ He died at his home in Salisbury, Wiltshire on Sunday evening.
Speaking to the 20,500-strong audience in the aptly-named Saint Paul, Bruce said: “This next track is actually called ‘The Time Machine.’ I was watching Back To The Future last night on TV and it’s true, it is 1.21 gigawatts of power that you need to put a DeLorean through the portal of time itself. I normally tell the story about that and we have a bit of fun.
But tonight is… I don’t want to put a downer on the proceedings at all, because our friend, our band member Paul Di’Anno passed away, as you are probably aware. And if you’re not aware of that fact, you are now.
“Paul was instrumental in the first two (Iron Maiden) albums, groundbreaking with ‘Killers’ and the first album. An amazing voice, devoted to rock and roll right up till the last minute of his life.”
Following huge applause from the Maiden faithful, Bruce continued: “For those of you who were born and still remember those early albums, when obviously I wasn’t in the band and he was, and those of you who were fans of the stuff he did with Battlezone and his own projects afterwards, and for anybody else that fancies having a listen to tracks like ‘Remember Tomorrow’ and stuff like that, which are absolutely awesome, I’m just gonna ask everybody to just take like a few seconds to just close your eyes in silence and say, just internally, mentally — if you believe in God, if you don’t believe in God, it actually doesn’t matter; just believe in what you believe in and just say, ‘Thanks, boss, for doing what you did.'”
When a few seconds had passed, Bruce concluded: “So, Paul, if you’re listening, this is a little message from Minneapolis to wherever you are, upstairs or downstairs, Minneapolis, for Paul Di’Anno, scream for me!”
The concert last night was part of the North American leg of Iron Maiden’s The Future Past Tour, which concludes in Mexico in late November. The band then play South American shows in Colombia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
Next year, Iron Maiden celebrate their 50th anniversary with the Run For Your Lives Tour, which includes a trio of sold-out UK arena shows a massive outdoor gig at London Stadium.
The concert last night was part of the North American leg of Iron Maiden’s The Future Past Tour, which concludes in Mexico in late November. The band then play South American shows in Colombia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
Next year, Iron Maiden celebrate their 50th anniversary with the Run For Your Lives Tour, which includes a trio of sold-out UK arena shows a massive outdoor gig at London Stadium.Iron Maiden underwent numerous line-up changes throughout the late 70s with singer Paul Day the first to get axed in favour of Dennis Wilcock who mimicked his favourite band by wearing make-up and using fake blood during performances. Other members throughout this period included drummers Barry Purkis and Doug Sampson, keyboardist Tony Moore, and guitarists Bob Sawyer and Terry Wapram. Current Iron Maiden axeman Dave Murray joined Iron Maiden in 1976 but was sacked a year later following an argument with Wilcock. When Wilcock left 1978, Murray was reinstated to the band and has remained a constant member of Iron Maiden ever since. Paul Di’Anno was recruited as vocalist in November 1978 and shortly before New Year, Iron Maiden recorded the three-track EP ‘The Soundhouse Tapes’, which was limited to 5,000 copies and is now a highly sought-after collector’s item.
