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* ''[[Killers (album)|Killers]]'' ([[1981]])
* ''[[Killers (album)|Killers]]'' ([[1981]])
** "Killers", [[1981]]
** "Killers", [[1981]]
* ''[[Maiden Japan]]'', [[1981]]


===Albums with [[Di'anno|Di'Anno]]===
===Albums with [[Di'anno|Di'Anno]]===

Revision as of 18:20, 7 September 2006

File:Paul-Dianno.jpg
Paul Di'Anno

Paul Andrews (born 17 May, 1958, in Chingford, Essex), better known as Paul Di'Anno, was the first prominent vocalist in the heavy metal band Iron Maiden from 1978 to 1981.

In his post-Maiden career, Di'Anno has issued numerous albums over the years, as both a solo artist and as a member of such bands as Gogmagog, Battlezone, Praying Mantis, and Killers.

In the mid-'90s, rumors began to surface that Di'Anno might be rejoining Maiden (after the exit of Dickinson in 1993), but the speculation proved to be false, as Maiden hooked up with former Wolfsbane vocalist Blaze Bayley, before reuniting with Dickinson in 1999.

By the dawn of the new millennium, Di'Anno was living in Brazil, still playing music (releasing his latest solo album, Living Dead, in 2006), and overseeing a hotel/restaurant that he owns in England. Although he appeared on only two albums with Iron Maiden, their work with Paul Di'Anno remains among metal's all-time finest.

Di'Anno is an atheist, and has a tattoo that says "666" and "GOD = SUCKER" on the back of his head. He was rumored to have converted to Islam in the 1990s, something which he has denied: I think religion kills everybody. I don’t believe in it. ... No, my father was a muslim, I must admit. But I don’t give a fuck. [1]

He currently lives in Salisbury, England.

Career

Iron Maiden

1980's self-titled release quickly became a classic and influential debut, as the band merged punk's energy with metal's riffs, serving as the blueprint for such future hard rock genres as thrash metal, punk metal, and speed metal. 1981 saw the release of their sophomore effort, Killers, as well as a stopgap live EP, Maiden Japan. Maiden found a replacement in former Samson frontman Bruce Dickinson, and promptly became one of the world's top metal outfits.

In 1981 he left Iron Maiden after a meeting between him and the band and its manager Rod Smallwood. In Di'Annos words: "It's like having Mussolini and Adolph Hitler run your band. Because it is Rod Smallwood and Steve Harris and that's it. There can't be anyone else and my character is too strong for that so me an' Steve was always fighting".

Di'Anno

D'iAnno was the first project by Paul DiAnno after he left Iron Maiden. This group was originally called Lonewolf but after certain disagreements with a group already called Lone Wolf, they changed their name and ended up recording only one album under the simple moniker of DiAnno.On the tour Paul refused to play any Iron Maiden songs (much to the dismay of the crowd), playing only their own songs and a few other covers. After minimal success, the six piece band disbanded shortly after they were done touring. The only two items available from this band are a single of "Heartuser" and a single Japanese release of Flaming Heart).

Gogmagog

In 1985, Di'Anno was to work on a project with a number of hired musicians. The group, called "Gogmagog", was put together by DJ and record producer Jonathan King. Gogmagog was a rock opera project. King brought in Di'Anno fresh from his 1984 self-named album. The idea of Gogmagog had tremendous potential since King was able to recruit well known and formidable musicians (including Clive Burr from past Iron Maiden, Janick Gers from Gillan, White Spirit and current Iron Maiden, Neil Murray from Whitesnake and Black Sabbath and Pete Willis from Def Leppard). Russ Ballard was hired to write some songs and a 3 track EP called "I Will Be There" (Ballard's song) was recorded and featured the most ridiculously titled but enormously catchy songs. An interesting point about the EP is that is wasn't released until after the group had disbanded. The three songs are only demos to be part of an album in which many more songs were written but never recorded. It is a rock rarity but much loved and rated by those who are lucky enough to hear it. It is interesting to note Janick Gers played with Burr and Di'Anno, ex-Maiden musicians long before he joined the band itself.

Battlezone

After the break up of his self-titled band,Dianno formed STRIKE whilst in America with drummer Bob Falck and guitarist John Hurley, but the project eventually wound up as BATTLEZONE upon the vocalist's return to Britain [2].

The band's initial line-up comprised of Dianno, guitarists Hurley and Darren Aldridge, bassist Laurence Kessler and Adam Parsons on drums. The latter had gone under the stage name A.D. Dynamite whilst in "Aunt May". However, Parsons left shortly after to form the London based Glam troupe "Belladonna" and Falck reappeared on the scene in time to record the band's first album "Fighing Back". 1986 also saw the enrollment of former Lonewolf and Tokyo Blade guitarist John Wiggins.

Battlezone performed a club tour of America in 1987 to promote the debut 'Fighting Back', but musical differences, arguments and physical fights within the band led to the departure of John Hurley and Bob Falck. Their places were taken by PERSIAN RISK members Graham Bath and Steve Hopgood respectively following the tour's completion. Hopgood had during the early 80's been a member of Shy and Chinatown.

Following the break up of Battlezone, Dianno and Hopgood formed Power Metal band "Killers" releasing four albums. Hurley would later join "Lo Girls". 1990 also found Dianno fronting PRAYING MANTIS for a tour of Japan and the subsequent 'Live At Last' album. Wiggins joined a reformed Tokyo Blade in 1995. Dianno was to release a series of solo albums both before and after Killers.

By 1998 Dianno had resurrected the name BATTLEZONE. Joining him were Wiggins and fellow ex-TOKYO BLADE members bassist Colin Riggs and drummer Marc Angel. The latter had also been a member of BERLIN and CHINATOWN. Second guitars were supplied by Paulo Turin. This line up cut the 'Feel My Pain' album, released by the fledgling "Zoom Club" label. BATTLEZONE undertook a sell out Brazilian tour in January of 1998 with erstwhile KILLERS colleagues bassist Gavin Cooper and guitarist Nick Burr joined him on this South American jaunt.

The band toured Brazil in the same year playing a three week tour to sold out audiences up to 6'000 fans a night. Being brought back down to earth BATTLEZONE upon their return home put in a gig at the Walthamstow Royal Standard. A live track from this gig later appeared on a compliation of all three Battlezone albums, entitled "Cessation of Hostilities". Ex-BATTLEZONE bassist Gavin Cooper joined LIONSHEART in December 2004, then moved onto STATETROOPER in May of 2005. The bassist subsequently joined the ranks of MAGNUM singer BOB CATLEY's solo band for UK dates in April 2006.

Killers

Killers was formed back in 1990 or in 1991. Cliff Evans was living in New York with the manager of Fastway. Steve Hopgood, who played in Battlezone with Paul called him and said “Let’s get something together”. Paul was contacted and he flew over to New York where they formed a band.

Within a few days they had hired John Gallagher (from Raven) to play bass on a short-term basis and an American, Ray De Tone, on second guitar. Within a few days, a live album called "South American Assault Live" was recorded, featuring a number of Iron Maiden and Battlezone tracks and covers of "We Will Rock You" and "Smoke on the Water". This was recorded primarily for the South American market, as a South American "money guy" was involved who was interested in backing a tour in the region[3]. "Recorded in Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela in Summer of 1993" is splashed on the back cover. However, according to John Gallagher, the entire album was played in a New York rehearsal hall and taped on a mobile recording truck [4]. Later, a Canada-based record company called Magnetic Air Productions was to issue a pirate release worldwide, under a different cover, with no royalties being paid to the band.

Killers then played a showcase for several major record companies includin Virgin, EMI, Sony and BMG. Representatives flew into New York from all over the world to see Killers play. They played only Iron Maiden songs because the band hadn't written any material. Maiden songs played included “Phantom Of The Opera” and ”Wratchild” which evidently impressed a BMG representative enough to give the band a $250,000 contract. BMG were unaware that these songs had been recorded previously.

Once Killers had the record deal they started to write the first album entitled "Murder One". The band moved to a studio upstate of New York "in the middle of nowhere". They stayed in a motel in which the owner had a set up rehearsal studio. The album was written in about in two weeks. It took only a further month to get it recorded.

After a spell in Jail, Paul Di'Anno returned to the UK after being deported. It was here that he signed the band to Bleeding Hearts records located in Newcastle. Here the band were to record their second studio album entitled "Menace To Society". With a forced Pantera-like style it was poorly received by the critics with the exception of Metal Hammer magazine in Germany who voted it as the "Best New Album" for that year.

Later, Paul and Cliff were to tour as the only original members of Killers left. Steve had to retire as he developed tinnitus in his ears. The guitarist Graham Bath damaged his hands from playing so much over the years and developed arthritis. Paul then hired new musicians who he remembered from touring in German and Austria. According to Di'Anno he had wanted Clive Burr (ex-Iron Maiden) to drum but he couldn't get to rehearsals in time. However, later on Clive was to become severely ill from Multiple Sclerosis.

Last known line-up Paul Di'Anno - Vocals (Di'Anno, ex-Battlezone, ex-Gogmagog (UK), ex-Iron Maiden) Cliff Evans - Guitars (Chicken Shack, Headfirst, Tank) Graham Bath - Guitars (Persian Risk, Sphinx) Brad Weiseman - Bass Steve Hopgood - Drums (ex-Battlezone, ex-Chinatown, ex-Jagged Edge, Persian Risk, Shy, Tank, Wild)

Former/past member(s) John Gallagher - Bass (1991-92) (Raven (UK) Ray Ditone - Guitars (1991-92) Nick Burr - Guitars (1992) (ex-Battlezone) Gavin Cooper - Bass (1992-94) (ex-Battlezone)

Discography Children Of The Revolution, EP, 1992 Murder One, Full-length, 1992 South American Assault Live "Live" album, 1994 Menace To Society Full-length, 1994 Live Live album, 1997 New Live & Rare Best of/Compilation, 1998 Killers Live at The Whiskey Live album, 2001 Screaming Blue Murder - The Very Best of Paul Di'Anno's Killers Best of/Compilation, 2002

The Beast

He has released a critically acclaimed biography titled The Beast (ISBN 1-904034-03-9) and has allegedly had interludes with various drugs. At one stage he was imprisoned for manslaughter, though many observers believe he should receive a full pardon at this point.

Review of "The Beast" by James Sherry (Kerrang - Aug 10th) If it was an offer, I'd take it. A line of coke, a few pills, a large drink, - yep, ta very much, mate." It's a familiar story, but let's face it - we just can't get enough of reading about rock stars indulging in the kind of debauchery we can only dream of. Paul Di'anno has done it all and lived to tell the tale in this thoroughly entertaining - and completely obscene - account of his life so far. Although the author is most famous for his time in Iron Maiden, that period of Di'anno's crazy f**ked-up life actually only takes up the first quarter of this book; unbelievably the tales from his later bands, Battlezone and Killers, are even more extreme. There's crime, guns, outrageous shag-fests and enough narcotic-related escapades to put even Motley Crue to shame. If you want sex, drugs and heavy metal, then you've come to the right place. Just don't try any of this at home.

Discography

Singles with Iron Maiden

  • Running Free, 1980
  • Sanctuary, 1980
  • Women In Uniform, 1980
  • Twilight Zone/Wrathchild, 1981
  • Purgatory, 1981

Albums with Iron Maiden

Albums with Di'Anno

Albums as Paul Di'Anno

Albums with Battlezone

Albums with Killers

Albums with Gogmagog

  • I Will Be There EP, 1985

Tribute albums featuring Paul Di'Anno

  • In Nomine Satanas - A Tribute to Venom
  • 666 The Number One Beast - A Tribute to Iron Maiden a.k.a. The Maiden Years - Tribute to Iron Maiden, 1999
  • 666 The Number One Beast Volume 2 a.k.a. The Maiden Story, 1999
  • Gimme All Your Top - A Tribute to ZZ Top, 2000
  • The Boys Are Back - A Tribute to Thin Lizzy, 2000
  • Only UFO Can Rock Me, 2001
  • Another Hair of the Dog - A Tribute to Nazareth, 2001
  • Hangar Of Souls - A Tribute To Megadeth, 2005
  • Numbers From The Beast - An Allstar Salute to Iron Maiden, 2005

Other projects and compilations featuring Paul Di'Anno

  • All Stars NWOBHM, 1990
  • True Brits, 1993
  • True Brits 2, 1994
  • True Brits 3, 1995
  • Killer Voices, 1995
  • The Original Iron Men, 1995
  • The Original Iron Men 2, 1996
  • Hard As Iron, 1996
  • Metal Monsters, 1996
  • Metal Christmas a.k.a The 21st Century Rock Christmas Album, 1996
  • The Almighty Inbredz, 1999
  • Classic Rock, Classic Rockers, 2002
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