This respectful but (to its credit) not entirely reverential documentary profiles Paul Di’Anno (born Paul Andrews in 1958), the lead singer of heavy metal act Iron Maiden between 1978 and 1981. Fans of the band, and rock historians, will know that, while there are plenty of admirers of Di’Anno’s work in concert and on the first two Iron Maiden albums, the group went supersonic only after they parted ways with him. Their breakthrough album, The Number of the Beast, had Bruce Dickinson on lead vocals, so that sort of makes Di’Anno the Stuart Sutcliffe or Pete Best of Maiden lore, although the group have cycled through so many musicians and collaborators over the years comparison with the Beatles doesn’t map neatly.
Either way, archive footage of the once studly looking Di’Anno in his prime, belting his heart out with a pleasingly gravelly voice that shaded more towards punk than classic metal crooning, is entertaining, even for total Maiden newbies. Nevertheless, you can see why he didn’t go all the way because, as viewers get to know him through the original footage shot for this film, it becomes clear that Di’Anno could often be an obstreperous, difficult-to-love character.
