Former Iron Maiden lead singer Paul Mario Day dies aged 69

Metro

2 days ago

Steve Charnock Published July 31, 2025 9:42am Updated July 31, 2025 9:42am Link is copied Comments Paul Mario Day, the original lead singer of the hugely adored heavy metal band Iron Maiden - and a key early stalwart in 70s and 80s UK rock music - has sadly died at the age of 69, following a battle with cancer. News of his death was confirmed by former bandmates in More, the group he founded after Maiden. They called him 'a huge part of the new wave of British heavy metal' and 'a well-loved figure in British rock music' (Picture:/Hulton Archive) Day was recruited by Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris in late 1975, becoming the band's very first frontman. He sang at their debut gig in Poplar, East London on 1 May, 1976, and performed regularly at a local pub in Stratford as the band built their early reputation. Despite being part of the band's formative period, Day's tenure was pretty short. He left Iron Maiden after just ten months, with the band claiming that he lacked the kind of showy stage presence they felt they required in order to push on as a group. His successor Dennis Wilcock also lasted less than two years for similar reasons. The band's fortunes changed with Paul Di'Anno and later Bruce Dickinson, who would become the group's defining voice (Picture: YouTube/Metal Talk) In a 2019 interview, Day reflected on his departure from the band: 'Steve was saying, 'You've got to get better. You've got to be more in the audience's face. You've got to be commanding. You've got to be a hero.' And I agreed with him, but I didn't actually know how to make that happen!' (Picture: Jo Hale/Redferns) 'I got a warning for maybe three months: 'Get it together. Get it together.' And I wanted to, I just didn't know how to do it. So the funny thing is, the worst experience was the best lesson because when I got that notice and I felt so gutted, it changed me. Iron Maiden at that time were nothing, honestly … What Steve was doing was trying to make the band big. He knew what he wanted. What he wanted is what he got. He got one of the biggest bands on the planet. As much as it hurt, as much as it upset me, I learnt a big lesson that day. I really did. I used that emotion, I guess, in my singing…' (Picture:/Hulton Archive) After Maiden, Day went on to form More in 1980. The band played the Donington Monsters of Rock festival the following year and opened for Iron Maiden on their Killers tour. He later fronted Wildfire and joined a reformed version of glam rock group Sweet. 'We needed a singer and when Paul arrived for the audition we looked no further,' said Sweet guitarist Andy Scott (Picture: ROMEO BOETZLE/AFP via Getty Images) Day eventually relocated to Australia, where he continued to perform and record music. In his later years, he was cared for in a hospice. He is survived by his wife Cecily (Picture:/Hulton Archive) Next Gallery