In a wholesome moment that we're surprised took this long, current Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson met up with former Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di'Anno over the weekend.  

The long-overdue interaction between Dickinson and the man he replaced in Iron Maiden in 1981, took place in Zagreb, Croatia, where both men were in town to promote the new records from their respective projects (Dickinson's The Mandrake Project, DiAnno's, Paul Di'Anno's Warhorse). 

The meeting between DiAnno who sang on Iron Maiden's 1980 self-titled debut and the 1981 follow-up Killers and Dickinson who has fronted the band in two iconic stints from 1981-1993 and 1999 until today, was orchestrated by DiAnno's manager Stjepan Juras who was reportedly delighted to see the two legendary figures meet, sharing the following statement. 

"When we thought that nothing could surprise us anymore in the heavy metal world, tonight's 'miracle' in Zagreb proved us all wrong". 

"Paul Di'Anno and Bruce Dickinson met for the first time and had a friendly chat right in Zagreb. By coincidence, Bruce is promoting his new album The Mandrake Project in Zagreb on tour on July 13, and on the same day, after Bruce's show, Paul Di'Anno had a live promotion and signing session for his first album with the Paul Di'Annos' Warhorse project."

"This was an exceptional opportunity for the two icons of heavy metal music and the legendary singers of the band Iron Maiden to meet for the first time after almost half a century. This is an exceptional night for the entire Iron Maiden community and for metal fans around the world, because it shows that Iron Maiden and everyone who was in that band, is one big family."

A brief video of the two Iron Maiden icons chatting can be seen below. 

Di'Anno's run in Iron Maiden is still recognized and celebrated by the band and fans alike, with Killers' tracks Wrathchild and Killers still performed live, and the latter being named by guitarist Dave Murray during an interview with Maniacs, as one of his all-time contributions to the Iron Maiden catalogue. Watch footage of the Di'Anno-fronted lineup of Iron Maiden performing Wrathchild in 1981 below. 

Dickinson's first record with Iron Maiden was the iconic The Number Of The Beast which received a 40th-anniversary re-issue in late 2022.  Included in the new vinyl package is Beast Over Hammersmith - available now officially for the very first time on vinyl - featuring the live concert from March 1982’s now legendary Hammersmith Odeon London show from the Beast On The Road World Tour. Recorded only days before the release of The Number Of The Beast album, it's remarkable to think these now classic songs at that time were still brand new, unfamiliar and being heard live by fans for the very first time. A real piece of history in the making.

The package features exclusive liner notes written by Maiden founder and bassist Steve Harris as well as restored and expanded artwork taken from the CD format of Beast Over Hammersmith, previously only available in the Limited Edition Eddie’s Archive boxset originally released in 2002.

Harris comments, “On this vinyl release we get the chance to put Total Eclipse in its rightful spot on the album for the first time. The reason it didn’t make it in the first place was that it was all a mad rush when we were finishing the record and we had to get the Run to the Hills single out before the tour and we basically had to pick a B-side and it was between Gangland and Total Eclipse and we just picked the wrong one, really! I think Total Eclipse is a stronger song and the album would have been stronger if it had been on there.”  

Buy The Number Of The Beast plus Beast Over Hammersmith 

Iron Maiden will return to Australia on their first tour since 2016 when The Future Past tour plays Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland next September. 

The Future Past tour concept sees Iron Maiden include songs from both the band’s most recent studio album Senjutsu as well as 1986’s seminal album Somewhere In Time, alongside other fan favourites. 

The tour played to over 750,000 fans at more than 30 sold-out shows across Europe in the summer of 2023. Featuring one of the most spectacular stage productions of the band’s career, it received rave reviews in every city and country that Iron Maiden visited.

Iron Maiden 

The Future Past Australian Tour 2024

Sunday 1 September: Perth, RAC Arena

Wednesday 4 September: Adelaide, Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Friday 6 September: Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena

Saturday 7 September: Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena

Tuesday 10 September: Brisbane, Brisbane Entertainment Centre

Thursday 12 September: Sydney, Qudos Bank Arena

Head to www.ironmaiden.com or www.tegdainty.com for all ticketing and tour information.

Iron Maiden released their 17th studio album Senjutsu in 2021.  On the day of Senjutsu's release, we were granted an audience with a man whose fingerprints were all over that signature Iron Maiden sound, Dave Murray about the band's enduring legacy.