**Iron Maiden’s First Lead Singer, Paul Mario Day, Dies Aged 69 as Rock World Pays Tribute**
The music world is mourning following the death of Paul Mario Day, the original frontman of the legendary British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, who has died at the age of 69. Day’s passing was announced on 30 July 2025, prompting tributes from colleagues, fellow musicians and fans across the globe.
Paul Mario Day’s place in rock history endures, despite his tenure with Iron Maiden being brief. Joining the band in its infancy in 1975, Day became the first voice of a group that would go on to achieve worldwide acclaim. Though he never recorded any studio tracks with Iron Maiden and his stint lasted less than a year, his role in shaping the foundations of their early sound is well-recognised among devotees of the genre.
Reflecting on those formative days, Day candidly shared in interviews how Iron Maiden were far removed from the stadium-filling juggernaut they would rapidly become. “When I sang in Iron Maiden, it was a new pub band and nobody wanted to see or hear them. We were all nobodies, all trying our best to make music and fight for an audience,” he recalled. Such humility exemplified a career that spanned several influential acts, including More and Wildfire, and ultimately a celebrated turn with the glam rock group, The Sweet.
Confirmation of Day’s death emerged from his bandmates in More, who eulogised him on social media as “a huge part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement.” The band praised his iconic performance on their album ‘Warhead’, noting the impact he had throughout his musical journey. “Paul was a huge part of the NWOBHM from his time in an early version of Iron Maiden and of course his fantastic performance on the ‘Warhead’ album,” they wrote.
The Sweet, the group with which Day enjoyed considerable success in the 1980s, also honoured his legacy. In a heartfelt statement, they remembered how his audition had made an instant impression. “When Paul arrived for the audition we looked no further. Our first dates were in Australia, total sell-outs which boded well for the future. Europe followed suit and 3 sold out nights at the Marquee in London produced a live album, video and DVD. ‘Live at the Marquee’ did well in various charts around the world and Paul’s vocal performance has stood the test of time,” the band posted in tribute.
Industry figures outside his own bands have also voiced their appreciation. Mike Freeland, a later Sweet vocalist, remembered Day as “a bloody great vocalist,” and noted it was an honour for the band to continue performing the music he made his mark upon. Many highlighted his memorable appearance at the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington in 1981, which saw him share the bill with legendary acts such as AC/DC, Whitesnake, Def Leppard, and of course, Iron Maiden themselves.
Day’s early exit from Iron Maiden was later detailed in the band’s retrospective DVD, ‘Iron Maiden: The Early Days’, with Day acknowledging the stark realities faced by up-and-coming musicians of the era. He openly discussed the pressure to develop stage presence, admitting he struggled with this aspect during his tenure, and noted that the disappointment of his dismissal became a crucial life lesson that shaped his subsequent musical career.
Despite the end of his time with Iron Maiden, Day’s connection with the group continued to attract attention, particularly regarding his claim to have co-written the song “Strange World” on the band’s breakthrough 1980 debut album. While initially upset about lack of recognition, Day later revealed that the issue had been amicably resolved, declaring in 2019 that “everything’s fine as far as that’s concerned”.
Paul Mario Day’s musical legacy extends beyond his recordings, remembered in sold-out shows, classic albums, and the praise of his contemporaries. As tributes continue to pour in, fans and fellow musicians alike acknowledge his lasting influence as one of British rock and heavy metal’s formative voices. Day passed away peacefully at his home in Australia, leaving behind his wife Cecily and a host of admirers saddened by his loss but grateful for the music and inspiration he provided.
His journey from local pubs to major international stages serves as a reminder of the unpredictable paths that often characterise rock stardom, and of the lasting impact that even those whose time in the spotlight may be short can have on the history of music.