10 Biggest Backstabbing Moments In Rock History
7. Paul Di'Anno - Iron Maiden
The idea of Paul Di'Anno's voice gelling in Iron Maiden felt like the perfect marriage. In a scene that was already up to their neck in punk rock, here was a guy with the same attitude as a punk rocker who did it better than any of the Johnny Rottens of the world ever could in a metal context. Though it seemed like the ideal partnership, the rest of the band started to become a little bit more unfaithful.
As much as Di'Anno's voice gave them an edge back in the day, Maiden were in the market for someone who had a much broader depth with their voice to compete with the Rob Halford set of metal singers. Though they finally found their man in human air raid siren Bruce Dickinson, it wasn't the happiest of partnerships severing ties with Paul.
Instead of being told by the band that he would have to leave, Di'Anno was met with their manager to do the dirty work, even likening the treatment he was given to being managed by Adolf Hitler. Then again, it's not like Paul was that much of an angel either, considering how much cocaine abuse he was going through night after night on tour. Sometimes it just comes down to the commitment, and in Maiden's eyes, Paul was just not going to go the distance.