This respectful but not entirely reverential documentary profiles Paul Di'Anno (born Paul Andrews in 1958), the lead singer of heavy metal act Iron Maiden between 1978 and 1981. Fans of the band and rock historians know that while Di'Anno's work on the first two Iron Maiden albums is admired, the group achieved supersonic success only after parting ways with him. Their breakthrough album, The Number of the Beast, featured Bruce Dickinson on lead vocals, making Di'Anno a sort of Stuart Sutcliffe or Pete Best of Maiden lore, though the band's many lineup changes make direct comparisons to the Beatles imprecise.
Archive Footage and Di'Anno's Prime
Archive footage of the once studly Di'Anno in his prime, belting out songs with a gravelly voice that leaned more toward punk than classic metal crooning, is entertaining even for total Maiden newcomers. However, it becomes clear why he didn't go all the way. As viewers get to know him through original footage, Di'Anno emerges as obstreperous and difficult to love.
A Dark Period Documented
Director Wes Orshoski follows Di'Anno during a dark time in his life, before, during, and after the Covid-19 pandemic, when his health declined badly, including a dislocated knee that made walking impossible. We hear grumbling about the NHS, which seemingly couldn't schedule surgery until his health improved. Then Croatian superfan Stjepan Juras and friends crowdfund to bring Di'Anno to Zagreb, where treatment is cheaper than private UK care. Their efforts seem saintly as Di'Anno's bad temper and narcissism lead him to criticize them for booking the wrong taxi and being generally difficult.
Rehabilitation and Relapse
While surgeries happen and Di'Anno's career revives in Croatia, he doesn't stick with rehabilitation and exercise, sliding back into depression and ill-health, smoking cigarettes and complaining constantly. It's a film where the focal point is so dislikable that one longs for the camera to follow anyone else: Juras, the Croatian nurse who gets engaged to Di'Anno then disappears, or the Norwegian rockers in his backup band, middle-aged men who look like IT professionals or physics teachers. By the end, any of these would be preferable to the ungrateful, self-pitying central figure.
Di'Anno – Iron Maiden's Lost Singer is in UK cinemas from 1 May.
