Former Iron Maiden lead singer Paul Mario Day passes away at 69

Paul Mario Day, known as the original vocalist for Iron Maiden, has passed away at the age of 69 after battling cancer. His former bandmates from More expressed their condolences, recognizing Day’s significant contributions to the new wave of British heavy metal and his revered status in the British rock music scene.

Day was brought into Iron Maiden by bassist Steve Harris in the late 1975. The band’s initial live performance took place in Poplar, London on May 1, 1976, followed by a residency at a local pub in Stratford. Despite his tenure lasting only 10 months, Day left a mark within the group. However, he departed due to accusations of lacking the necessary energy and charisma expected. His replacement, Dennis Wilcock, also had a brief stint and was eventually succeeded by Paul Di’Anno. Di’Anno was later let go due to substance abuse issues, paving the way for the iconic vocalist Bruce Dickinson to join the band.

Reflecting on his departure from Iron Maiden, Day revealed in 2019 that Harris pushed him to enhance his stage presence and showmanship. Although he struggled to meet those expectations, the experience taught him a valuable lesson. Day acknowledged that Iron Maiden was still a fledgling band at the time, but Harris had a vision to propel them to international stardom, a goal he achieved successfully. Despite the initial disappointment of being replaced, Day utilized that setback to fuel his growth as a performer.

After leaving Iron Maiden, Day founded the heavy metal group More in 1980, where he remained until 1982. The band performed at the renowned Monsters of Rock festival in Donington in 1981 and supported Iron Maiden during the Killers tour the same year. Following More, Day also embarked on musical endeavors with Wildfire and later fronted the reformed glam rock band Sweet, earning praises from guitarist Andy Scott for his impressive audition.

Day continued to pursue his passion for music in Australia, where he resided in his later years and received care at a hospice. He is survived by his wife Cecily, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering figure in the British heavy metal scene. Day’s contributions to the genre and his unwavering dedication to music will be remembered by fans and peers alike.