Paul Di’Anno, renowned heavy metal singer and the first frontman of Iron Maiden, has passed away at the age of 66.

Iron Maiden paid homage to Di’Anno with a heartfelt message on social media on Monday.

“We are tremendously saddened by the news of Paul Di’Anno’s passing earlier today. His monumental contributions to Iron Maiden were pivotal in shaping the band’s journey over the past nearly fifty years,” the message, alongside a photo of Di’Anno with founding bassist Steve Harris, stated.

“His trailblazing role as a frontman and vocalist during our initial performances and on our first two albums will be cherishably remembered, not just by us but by fans across the globe,” the statement went on to say.

“We were fortunate to reconnect a couple of years prior and spend some time with him once again. On behalf of the band, Rod, Andy, and the entire Iron Maiden crew, we extend our sincerest condolences to Paul’s family and friends. Rest in Peace, Paul.”

Harris echoed his sorrow in the statement, commenting, “It’s just heartbreaking to see him go. I recently reached out, and we were texting about West Ham and their ups and downs. At least he was performing until recently; that was a source of joy for him. He will be deeply missed. Rest in peace, mate ⚒⚒.”

In 1981, Bruce Dickinson succeeded Di’Anno as the lead singer of Iron Maiden.

Di’Anno’s record label took to Facebook to confirm the news, stating, “On behalf of his family, Conquest Music regrets to announce the passing of Paul Andrews, widely recognized as Paul Di’Anno. He died at his residence in Salisbury,” the statement indicated. Representatives also verified the news to Fox News Digital.

While the cause of death hasn’t been disclosed, his record label mentioned that Di’Anno had been battling serious health challenges in recent years. Nevertheless, he kept entertaining his fans worldwide, performing over 100 shows since 2023, even while in a wheelchair.

Born in East London, Di’Anno rose to fame as the lead vocalist for Iron Maiden from 1978 to 1981, during which he recorded the influential debut album “Iron Maiden” and its sequel “Killers.” After parting ways with Iron Maiden, he embarked on a lengthy and varied career, notably with bands Battlezone and Killers, as well as through several solo projects and guest collaborations.

In a 2023 interview with the YouTube channel MB Live, Di’Anno shared that despite having occasional performances, he had been “off the road for eight years” due to health problems that restricted his travel capabilities.

After experiencing a delay in knee surgery in 2022, Di’Anno faced significant medical expenses. He revealed that Iron Maiden “covered the costs for the last couple of months of treatment,” for which he expressed his “eternal gratitude.”