Di’Anno: Iron Maiden’s Lost Singer (2025) is a documentary about a man in his 60s who, suffering from depression and severe knee problems, now sits in a wheelchair.

He’s also the former singer of the world-famous British heavy metal band Iron Maiden before the band became world-famous.

It’s too bad for the Maiden that they later replaced him with Bruce Dickinson and became a multimillion-dollar (billion-dollar?) success, featuring high-pitched vocals and galloping drum beats powerful enough to shatter your living room windows … and, of course, melodies to move the masses.

Or is it?

Iron Maiden’s Iron Maiden, which deputed in 1980, is soaked in a totally different groove. Some call it metal punk. Others credit it for sparking the flame for trash metal, inspiring groups like Metallica and Megadeth.

Revisiting the album recently, it still sounds freakishly good, and a lot of it has to do with the late Paul Di’Annos (1958–2024) vocals and energy.

At times he reminds me of Peter Rivera from Rare Earth or James Hetfield from Metallica, who, in the documentary, praises Di’Anno’s Iron Maiden for helping him get through high school and showing him what a vocalist can do.

Sadly, Di’Anno only recorded two albums with Iron Maiden, with Killers being the last in 1981.

The group parted ways due to irreconcilable differences in direction and working habits.

Di’Anno: Iron Maiden’s Lost Singer, directed by Wes Orshosksi (U.S.), who brought us Lemmy (2010), now offers a glimpse into the reasons why.

‘Di’Anno: Iron Maiden’s Lost Singer’ is screening at the DocPoint Helsinki Documentary Film Festival on February 7 and 8.

Running time: 97 minutes