Di’Anno: Iron Maiden’s Lost Singer

For those daring enough to witness the historic restoration of a ripped-out page from rock history, run to the hills to see Di’Anno: Iron Maiden’s Lost Singer, written and directed by supreme rock documentarian Wes Orshoski. After masterful features on Lemmy and The Damned, Orshoski turns the spotlight to someone who narrowly missed superstardom: Paul Di’Anno, the punk-looking singer on Iron Maiden’s first two albums. Partially due to recreational misbehavior, Di’Anno’s time in Iron Maiden was cut short in the early 80s, when he was replaced by Bruce Dickinson. While fans initially rejected the replacement, Iron Maiden’s Number of the Beast album with Dickinson became a worldwide bestseller, leading to the band ruling many years from the top of the metal mountain, while Di’Anno remained in the foothills of memory.

Paul Di’Anno performs from his wheelchair at a live show, reflecting the health struggles chronicled in Di’Anno: Iron Maiden’s Lost Singer.

“In 2017, he is confined to a wheelchair, with both of his legs bloated, flaking and purple.”

The documentary catches up with Di’Anno after many years of alcohol and drug abuse, during a time of great turmoil for the singer. After problems with water-in-the-knee resulted in having to start using a cane in the 90s, Di’Anno’s mobility problems worsened until he was no longer able to walk. In 2017, he was confined to a wheelchair, with both of his legs bloated, flaking, and purple. One of his knees is completely dislocated, but the National Health Service in England says he is not healthy enough to operate on. Stjepan Juras, an Iron Maiden super fan in Croatia, suggests Di’Anno get much more affordable medical treatment in Zagreb. Miserable to the point of suicide, Di’Anno starts a long and painful journey to try to walk again, hoping one day to stand on a stage again. Then he can blow up that damned chair.

You immediately get the idea to shut down all your prediction glands while watching Di’Anno: Iron Maiden’s Lost Singer. It starts off with a bewildering warning over the film containing graphic images that some may find upsetting. What could this be? Are we going to take a look deep up inside Eddie, Iron Maiden’s Famous zombie mascot? No, we actually get something extremely gruesome, yet strangely satisfying: Di’Anno’s leg surgery footage. I cannot stand surgery footage, yet I loved this scene to pieces. Reason was I had grown so frustrated with the out of control deterioration of his swollen, useless legs, I relished seeing them cut open and ripped apart. Orshoski intercuts the surgery with footage of Di’Anno performing onstage, meaning loud and fast music is blasting while knees get yanked out. Now that’s metal!