Bruce Dickinson and former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di’Anno met for the first time ever following the former’s concert in Zagreb, Croatia, on Saturday (July 13th).
Dickinson was in Zagreb for a concert with his solo band while on tour for his new album The Mandrake Project. As reported by Di’Anno’s manager, Stjepan Juras, the ex-Maiden frontman was coincidentally hosting a promotional signing event for the debut album from his new band, Paul Di’Anno’s Warhorse, after Dickinson’s show.
“When we thought that nothing could surprise us anymore in the heavy metal world, tonight’s ‘miracle’ in Zagreb proved us all wrong,” wrote Juras via a press release. “Paul Di’Anno and Bruce Dickinson met for the first time and had a friendly chat right in Zagreb.”
He continued: “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.”
Juras also captured some brief footage of the encounter, which marks the first time Maiden’s most notable frontmen have met face-to-face in the four-plus decades since Dickinson took over for Di’Anno in 1981. Di’Anno fronted the legendary British metal band during its formative years, singing on Maiden’s first two albums, 1980’s Iron Maiden and its follow-up Killers in 1981.
Di’Anno has been battling major health issues in recent years and almost quit performing live in 2020.
But after forming his Warhorse project in 2021, Di’Anno announced his return to the stage as part of his ongoing “The Beast Resurrection Tour” with “the aim of saving his life and getting him out of his wheelchair,” according to the singer’s website. Meanwhile, the debut album from Paul Di’Anno’s Warhorse is due out sometime this year via BraveWords Records.
Fans can catch Dickinson fronting Iron Maiden when the legendary metal band embarks on the North American leg of its “Future Past Tour” on October 4th in San Diego. Tickets are available here.
Below you can watch the first-ever meeting between Bruce Dickinson and Paul Di’Anno, and see a photo of the two alongside Di’Anno’s manager Stjepan Juras.
Bruce Dickinson, Paul Di’Anno’s manager Stjepan Juras, and Paul Di’Anno, via Michael Brandvold Marketing
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