Paul Di’anno – the singer who loaned his voice to Iron Maiden’s first two albums – has announced via his Facebook page earlier today that he will be retiring from the music business and making 2013 his last year on the road. The short statement simply reads, “I am gonna be ” Pulling The Plug” next year 2013, and making it my “Farewell Tour”…it was good whilst it lasted.” Di’anno’s retirement is believed to be stemming from his recent health issues, including an upcoming knee surgery. The next year will see many shows and festival appearances for Di’anno, along with ‘various guest musicians’ playing with him. So far this summer, Di’anno is scheduled to perform a number of shows in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, in addition to an appearance at Norway’s Gjerstad Rock Festival.
Recently, Di’anno finished serving two months in prison, following a 2011 conviction of fraudulently collecting health benefits from the UK government to the tune of about £45,000. Initially, Di’anno was given a conviction of nine months. Di’anno’s bust came after government officials from the Department of Work and Pensions discovered videos on his website of his energized performances, after filing paperwork claiming he was unable to work due to a back injury. This was certainly not his first stint in jail, having served various sentences in the US for domestic abuse, cocaine possession, and illegal possession of firearms, which ultimately led to his deportation from the US in 1993.
Di’anno served as the singer for Iron Maiden from 1978 to 1981, during which time he performed vocals on their 1980 self-titled album and 1981’s “Killers,” in addition to the live EP “Maiden Japan.” The singer split with the band in 1981 due to what he described as a difficult working situation, and what the band described as a lack of effort on Di’anno’s part. Both sides of the story can be read in Iron Maiden’s “Run to the Hills: The Authorized Biography” and Di’anno’s 2010 autobiography, “The Beast.”
