Iron Maiden graduate Paul Di’Anno: cause of death revealed

New details are emerging about what led to Paul Di’Anno’s death last month. On Monday, the musician’s Facebook page revealed that the former Iron Maiden singer died from a “tear in the sac around his heart” that caused his heart to stop. He was 66.

“We have received permission from Paul’s family to bring you the news of Paul’s cause of death after the autopsy results are available,” the post reads.

“His sisters, Cheryl and Michelle, confirmed the following: ‘Essentially, he had a tear in his pericardium that was being filled with blood from the aorta, causing his heart to stop,'” the statement said. “Paul’s death was instantaneous and hopefully painless. May he rest in peace.”

Over the weekend, his friends and family hosted an In Memoriam show in his honor at Underworld Camden in London. “His fellow musicians gave their friend a fitting farewell with a great musical performance,” the post continues.

In October, Di’Anno’s death was confirmed in a note that metal label Conquest Music posted on its Facebook page on behalf of the Di’Anno family. It was said that Di’Anno – whose real name was Paul Andrews – died at his home in Salisbury, England.

At the time of his death, the statement said that Di’Anno had “suffered from serious health problems in recent years that prevented him from performing in a wheelchair.” Despite this, he continued to play shows around the world and “has had well over 100 shows” as of 2023 (although he announced a retirement of sorts in 2020).

Di’Anno joined Iron Maiden in 1978, at a time when the fledgling group had been performing for several years but had not yet settled on a permanent lineup. Di’Anno sang on Iron Maiden’s first releases, including the 1979 EP. The Roundhouse Tapesand their 1980 self-titled debut, which put them at the forefront of a new era of British heavy metal.