Di'Anno: My wife won't let me quit

Former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di’Anno jokes his wife won't let him retire - because she couldn't stand having him around the house.

Last year he told fans he was “pulling the plug” on his career, but later changed his mind, saying he hoped to carry on after undergoing knee surgery.

Now Di’Anno tells The Metal Voice: “I spoke to the wife and she said, ‘Oh, my God – if you stay home for two months I’ll probably murder you.’ So I decided in the end, ‘Fuck it.’”

He explains: “I was going to retire because of a bad knee, and it was really pissing me off. I thought about quitting – not because I wanted to, but I thought, ‘This could get worse; I’m doing more damage to it.’ Then I thought, ‘It doesn’t make a difference. It’s about the voice.’”

As a result of successful surgery, he says of his current live schedule: “It’s not a farewell tour.”

He’s working on an album with his latest outfit Architect Of Chaoz, which includes members of his German touring band the Phantomz. He reports: “Doing all these things is great – but I actually want to be part of a band.”

Di’Anno’s DVD The Beast Arises will be released on October 6, including a selection of Maiden tracks.

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.