Paul Di'Anno's Cause Of Death Revealed

The metal music world was rocked with bad news last month when former Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di’Anno passed away.

Di’Anno passed away at the age of 66. No cause of death was revealed at the time, but fans who had followed the singer’s career were aware of his struggles with illness over the years.

In a statement posted to Di’Anno’s Facebook yesterday (11 November), his cause of death was revealed. Di’Anno’s family wrote that he had a “tear in the sac around his heart” that led to his passing.

“Dear fans and friends. We have received permission from Paul's family to bring you the news of Paul's cause of death, after the results of the autopsy have been received,” the post reads.

Di’Anno’s sisters, Cheryl and Michelle, continued: “Basically, he had a tear in the sac around the heart and blood has filled inside it from the main aorta artery and that has caused the heart to stop.”

The singer’s family confirmed Di’Anno’s passing was “instantaneous and hopefully painless. May he rest in peace.”

At the end of the post, Di’Anno’s family wrote that an In Memoriam concert dedicated to the singer was held at Underworld Camden. The event hosted “many of Paul's fans, friends, colleagues and family members” and featured a “magnificent musical set” as his peers said farewell.

From 1978 to 1981, Paul Di’Anno fronted the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, singing on their self-titled debut album and the follow-up LP Killers. He was replaced by Bruce Dickinson, who continues to sing for Iron Maiden to this day.

After his time in Iron Maiden, Di’Anno went on to front bands such as Killers and Battlezone and enjoyed an illustrious solo career. He last toured Australia in January of this year.

After his passing was confirmed, Iron Maiden said, “Paul’s contribution to Iron Maiden was immense and helped set us on the path we have been travelling as a band for almost five decades.

“His pioneering presence as a frontman and vocalist, both on stage and on our first two albums, will be very fondly remembered not just by us, but by fans around the world.”