Ex-IRON MAIDEN Singer PAUL DI'ANNO Says His Children Have Pushed Him To Stay Off Drugs

May 26, 2015

Former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno, who has fought a long battle with drug abuse before finally getting sober, tells The Times Of India that he is still in recovery and credits his family for helping him stay clean.

"As much as what harm drugs cause you, what they do to your family is worse," he says. "I have seen a lot of people lose everything they had money, a home and even their family because of drugs and feel it's not worth it. The reality is that you can never be completely cured of them. Even today, I am in recovery. There are moments I slip too, but then feel twice as guilty later. It is my children who have pushed me to stay off drugs and I will do it for them."

Di'Anno completed his first North American tour in early 2010, 17 years after he was deported following a prison term for guns and drug offenses.

On August 27, 2011, Di'Anno played his first show since serving time in a U.K. prison after he falsely collected U.K. government benefits by claiming he suffered nerve damage to his back that prevented him from working.

Due to a number of health issues, including a knee problem which required surgery, Di'Anno announced in July 2012 that he would stop touring in 2013. He has since scrapped his farewell tour, explaining to "The Metal Voice": "I was gonna retire because of a bad knee. And it was really pissing me off. What it is, I've got a knee replacement, 'cause it's all damaged; I've had a couple of motorcycle accidents. I thought about quitting — not because I wanted to, but I thought, 'This could get worse. I'm doing more damage to it.' But then I thought, it doesn't make a difference; it's about the voice. And I spoke to the wife and she said, 'Oh, my God. If you stay home for two months, I'll probably murder you.' So I decided in the end, 'Fuck it.'"

Di'Anno recorded two classic albums with IRON MAIDEN before being fired and replaced by Bruce Dickinson. He went on to front a number of other bands, including KILLERS and BATTLEZONE, and released several solo records.

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