Paul Mario Day, the first frontman of Iron Maiden, passed away at his home in Newcastle, Australia, on July 30 after a brave fight with cancer. He was 69 years old. Day was with Iron Maiden from late 1975 to fall 1976, performing at their earliest shows. In a 2019 interview, he reflected on those days, saying, “When I sang in Iron Maiden, it was a new pub band and nobody wanted to see or hear them. We were all nobodys trying to make the best music we could.”
Day’s big break came later with the band More, where he performed at the huge 1981 Monsters of Rock festival, sharing the stage with legends like AC/DC and Whitesnake. By 1985, he joined Sweet and contributed to their Live at the Marquee album. Sweet’s Andy Scott remembered, “We needed a singer, and 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.”
Day’s time with Iron Maiden ended when the band wanted a more dynamic stage presence. He recalled, “Steve was saying, ‘You’ve got to get better. You’ve got to be more in the audience’s face. You’ve got to be commanding.’” In the 1980s, Day made Australia his home and continued making music with bands like Wildfire and Buffalo Crows. Just weeks before his passing, he released his final track, “Unwanted Guest,” in June. Paul Mario Day will be remembered for his contributions to rock music and his early role in shaping Iron Maiden.
