Interviews : Paul DiAnno (Paul DiAnno) – 16/05/2009

Paul DiAnno was once the original lead singer of one of the biggest heavy metal bands in the world today, Iron Maiden. His punk rock attitude was one of many reason why the band exploded onto the scene, lending Iron Maiden the fame of being one of many pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement in the early 80’s.

Soon after his departure of Iron Maiden in 1982, DiAnno concentrated his time and effort to continue his music career, by creating music HE loved, under the label, Paul DiAnno. Through the mid to late 90’s he spread his music expertise to many other bands, such as Killers, Battlezone and most recently, RockFellas.

I recently had a chance to speak with Paul DiAnno about his upcoming Australia and New Zealand tour, plus all things Iron Maiden.

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Metal Obsession: This will be your first ever tour of Australia and New Zealand under the Paul DiAnno label. What can fans expect from the upcoming tour? I assume they’ll be treated to a plethora of great music, including some Iron Maiden hits?

Paul DiAnno: It’ll be a bit of this and that. Obviously many of my old Maiden classics, plus some of my stuff and a couple of other surprises.

MO: What are you looking forward to the most about touring both countries? I assume you’ll have sometime to do a bit of sightseeing?

PD: Just being there will be the greatest buzz for me.

MO: Many people who will be attending these shows will most notably know you for your work in Iron Maiden back in the early days. Now that Iron Maiden have become one of the biggest bands on the planet, do you see their success compared to yours as a blessing, or a curse?

PD: Bit of each really. Lets face it, if I were not originally in Maiden I may not be doing this now and on the other hand maybe the same would apply to Maiden too. Plus I have to play plenty of my Maiden stuff or people would get pissed off, and that’s been quite a few years now, but that is just part of the job now I guess.

MO: Do you enjoy the celebration of you’re Iron Maiden heritage when playing a live gig, or do you wish fans would take more interest in your solo career rather then attending the shows to get a small fix of Maiden?

PD: I have got used to being in this situation, so I try and embrace it wherever possible

MO: One of your most well known projects, ‘Battlezone’ saw the re-release of a boxset of the bands 3 albums in 2008, under the title “The Fight Goes On”. Are there plans to write a new album in the near future?

PD: Yes there are plans for new albums, but not as Battlezone as everything now is just under my name for the future.

MO: You’ve been apart of some amazing bands through you’re career, to name a few, Killers, Gogmagog, Battlezone, Praying Mantis, RockFellas and of course Iron Maiden. Which band would you say brought you the most pleasure to be apart of?

PD: Well Definitely Not Gogmagog or Praying Mantis (where I only guested), it’d have to be my solo work and Maiden I guess.

MO: Before Bruce Dickinson was ever apart of Iron Maiden, you were the poster boy of punk and anarchy in Iron Maiden. You were one of many reasons why the band catapulted to stardom and started the NWOBHM movement. If by some chance you were still in Iron Maiden today, how do you think the band would have evolved. Do you think they would have had the same success as they do today, if you were still with them?

PD: That’s a good question, but i really don’t have a clue/answer to that. Who knows maybe if we were still together, maybe we would have become a hardcore band? Haha! 🙂

MO: For the many people who don’t know Iron Maiden’s history, could you give us a little insight in how you become apart of Iron Maiden, and of course how it ended for you when you decided to leave the band?

PD: I joined in 1978 just for something to do, and left in 1982 after Iron Maiden and Killers, both EMI albums. I just didn’t want to be part of the machine that Iron Maiden was becoming.

MO: I remember seeing the original “Maiden Japan” album cover a while back. The one which depicted Iron Maiden’s mascot, Eddie holding the decapitated remains of your head plastered on the front cover. I assume you saw this cover at the time, it must have pissed you off quite a bit knowing that you’re fellow mates at the time wanted to be rid of you, and the only way they could tell you was to have this kind of imagery to get their point across?

PD: At the time I thought..idiots, but I am over that now.

MO: After all the ups and downs you’ve been through with Iron Maiden, do you still keep in contact with the band, or vise versa?

PD: We’re on good terms, but we have all gone our separate ways.

MO: In you’re autobiography “The Beast”, it states that you follow the Koran and take certain beliefs from the Muslim belief system, as your father is Muslim. Many are confused though with your beliefs at the moment, as you have a tattoo on the back of you’re neck which says “666? and “God = Sucker”. What are you’re personal beliefs at the moment, or are you confused in which belief system you should follow, as most mainstream beliefs contradict and confuse people nowadays?

PD: I was pretty fucked up when some of the book was written, and don’t even remember saying all that old bollocks. No, I am NOT a Muslim and basically I do not believe in anything..period.

MO: For someone who’s been in the music industry as long as you’ve been, what are your thoughts on the heavy metal movement today? Do you think heavy metal music still carries the same values and beliefs as it did back in the day. Do you believe its evolved, or rather devolved over time?

PD: I think it has evolved in a good and positive way, and its getting better all of the time.

MO: What bands or music takes your interest nowadays, do you have any favorite bands that you’ve recently discovered?

PD: I listen to lots of various and different music, but do not really have any favorites in any kind of music genre.

MO: Have you had the chance to check out any of Australia’s heavy metal exports?

PD: No, I have not had time to check anything from anywhere as I am constantly on tour and if I get free time, I just sleep.

MO: Any final comments you’d like to share before we finish up?

PD: Sorry I cannot make long answers as I am on tour in South America and about to go onstage. Really excited about this first ever trip to Oz and New Zealand and hoping it will be the first of many to come. 🙂

Band: Paul DiAnno
Date: 15/05/2009
Origin: London, England
www.myspace.com/diannothebeast

Interviewer: Anwar Rizk
Interviewee: Paul DiAnno (Vocals)

Make sure to check out Paul DiAnno on his upcoming Australia and New Zealand tour this June. Tickets on sale now!

Fri 29 May – Governor Hindmarsh – Adelaide, Australia
Sat 30 May – The Hi Fi – Melbourne, Australia
Mon 1 June – The Basement – Canberra, Australia
Tue 2 June – Waves – Wollongong, Australia
Wed 3 June – Cambridge Newcastle, Australia
Fri 5 June – The Hi Fi – Brisbane, Australia
Sat 6 June – Manning Bar – Sydney, Australia – TO BE FILMED FOR WORLWIDE RELEASE
Sat 13 June – Tranmission Room – Auckland, New Zealand

With special guests Black Majesty and Killrazor.