Former Iron Maiden singer Blaze Bayley has shared his heartfelt memories of fellow ex-Maiden vocalist Paul Di’Anno, who passed away last October at the age of 66. In a new interview with Canada’s The Metal Voice, Bayley remembered Di’Anno as a “legend” with an incredible voice, and regretted a missed opportunity for a historic on-stage reunion of all three Iron Maiden singers.
Bayley, who fronted Iron Maiden from 1994 to 1999, toured extensively with Di’Anno over the years, playing shows together in Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and at festivals like Sweden Rock. He recalled being astonished by Di’Anno‘s vocal power during those shared tours.
“There were some nights on tour when we were together… and you close your eyes and you listen to him singing those early Maiden songs, and you go, ‘He sounds better than he ever did on the record.’ It was incredible,” Bayley said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “If you were lucky, there was a couple of times that he had a good rest and a good sleep and he hadn’t been too stressed and he just sounded incredible.”
He emphasized Di’Anno‘s foundational role in the band’s history. “He’s a legend. That is the voice that began, that first record. You can never take that away,” Bayley stated. “Those first two albums, they’re the Di’Anno records. And that’s a band that doesn’t care about the rules… you can hear what Paul does. It just feels like, wow, he’s there pissed off and expressive. And that’s in his voice.”
While he acknowledged that Di’Anno “wasn’t in good health the last time I saw him,” Bayley was still devastated by the news of his death. “I wouldn’t say that I didn’t expect it, but I was absolutely gutted when [I got] the news that Paul had gone,” he admitted. “I didn’t think he would go then. It just didn’t feel right.”
Di’Anno‘s passing also marked the end of a long-held hope for Bayley: a one-off concert featuring all three vocalists from Iron Maiden‘s history. “I always hoped that it would be Paul, Bruce [Dickinson] and me somewhere on stage together,” he revealed. “One gig. It would be so fantastic for the fans. And that dream died with Paul, which is a great shame. Because I thought it was unlikely, but I didn’t think it was impossible. Now it is impossible, which is sad.”
To honor his friend’s memory, Bayley has incorporated a tribute into his current solo setlist. “I do [Maiden‘s classic song] ‘Wrathchild’ in my set,” he said. “And it’s for Paul — it makes me think of Paul… Just for four minutes, think of Paul.”
