Who was IRON MAIDEN’s first vocalist & why it matters

Metal Pilgrim | January 25, 2026

Before Iron Maiden hadthere was Paul Di’Anno, before Iron Maiden even had a demo tape, Iron Maiden had a vocalist Paul Mario Day. The very first frontman of Iron Maiden, who helped lay the foundation for what would become one of the greatest metal bands in history… but whose name most fans still don’t know.

And with the news of Paul’s passing, I thought it’s time we go back—way back—to tell the story of Iron Maiden before anyone was even watching. This is the story of Paul Mario Day.

00:00 – Intro
00:35 – Introducing Paul Mario Day
01:38 – Meeting Steve Harris
03:03 – Early Iron Maiden shows
04:41 – Contribution to Iron Maiden songs
06:40 – A bit more

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Background music: “Uberpunch” Alexander Nakarada (serpentsoundstudios.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

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All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.

Tagged as Iron Maiden, iron maiden 1975, iron maiden 1976, iron maiden documentary, iron maiden early days, iron maiden early days live, iron maiden first concert, iron maiden first singer, iron maiden first vocalist, iron maiden history, iron maiden live, iron maiden live 1975, iron maiden live 1976, iron maiden Paul Day, iron maiden Paul Mario Day, iron maiden reaction, iron maiden review, Paul Day, Paul Mario Day, Paul Mario Day iron maiden, the history of iron maiden.

Written by Metal Pilgrim

Comments

This post currently has 30 comments.

@Murphy_lab_R9

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

Why are we just hearing this now? I have been a IM fan since 1980 and never heard of Paul Mario day?
@lylefoster3235

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

I don’t know Paul Mario Day but Iron Maiden is much better back then in the beginning of the Band
@Castlelord33

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

Hi Metal Pilgrim. Just a little bit more information on Paul Mario Day.
He moved to my home town Newcastle, Australia in the 90's. He was a singer for original/cover bands around Newcastle and he recorded a song only days before he died. His vocals were very much like Bruce's and Ian Gillan.
@stadiontribune

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

I esp. love Paul Mario Day for his time in Sweet. We want Sweet! 💜
@the_trooper_72

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

Thanks for doing this video!!.. A lot of Maiden fans need to up their knowledge on the beginnings, which isn't Paul D'ianno.. Although a lot of people (myself included) got into Maiden through Paul D'ianno, Paul Mario Day was the first singer for Iron Maiden.. Paul D'ianno was the first recording singer for iron maiden
@roiben-yehuda5642

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

Correction: Paul Day did NOT provide "the very first voice to one of the greatest heavy metal bands to ever walk the earth", he provided the very first voice to THE greatest heavy metal band to ever walk the earth. There, fixed it for you.
@alessandrop.5131

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

Well, Sorry to Wilcock or Bailey, but to made history with Maiden as a singer your first name must be Paul.
@kudukilla

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

Interesting, I’ve got the Fire was B side of Flight of Icarus
@deansch6089

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

I find it fascinating how Paul has regained his middle name in his passing. He was always Paul Day until he passed and now suddenly he's being referred to by both names.
@floydian2007

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

I wonder if what the Beatles did with “Now and Then” two years ago, by enhancing a demo vocal of John Lennon on a rubbish old cassette tape, with modern technology and AI, would Iron Maiden consider doing the same? Maybe an anthology set of pre 1980 Maiden recordings could be possible.
@williamkilber8853

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

*🤘🏻🤘🏻*
@mateuszszwarc8100

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

It must be a weird feeling to leave a small local band and then see it become one of the biggest bands in the world over the years
@richardcharlesworth6069

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

66.6 k subscribers!
@svena.halstensen5699

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

let this be a lesson to new bands, record everything you do. so that in 50 years there still will be something to watch on YT.
@tomitoikka367

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

You should also pay tribute or even interview Al Atkins who was the original voice of Judas Priest 🤘😎👍
@gillsontoast

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

We'll need a Paul Day Episode 100%
I Love Remember Tomorrow from the early days of Maiden .
@jamesw.weissii3795

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

RIP, dude!
@CameronsMusic

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

I love the guitar on the wall 🤘
@PaulLembo

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

We have officially hit the very bottom of the old days barrel with that “audio” and a singer who was never even recorded.
@ericfg806

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

Great vid again. Please stop with those "memes" or whatever those non-related clips that you drop. It is annoying AF and adds nothing IMO.
@LucBouchard-l1m

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

Basically, Killers was not a new album, a follow-up to Maiden first album, but a collection of old songs they played live in their early years (re-worked). In fact many songs on Killers are older than some on their first album.
@careful...Icarus

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

Bro,you always brush things off with " thats a topic for another video". This IS the Day video do talk about him now. Lmao. Cheers.
@condoracustico3835

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

Great job! It'd be great to have this kind of video for every Maiden member
@davnroll

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

🤘⚒🤘
@mirko1382

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

My favorite Pay Day album is Warhead by More
@Mart_7512

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

RIP Paul Mario Day. He's now rocking with Paul Di'Anno, Ozzy Osbourne, Clive Burr, Lemmy Kilmister, etc.
@isak86

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

I just gotta say, when hearing about this news from my grandfather, who is not a Maiden fan he phrased it in such a way that I had thought Bruce died. I nearly fainted 😭😭
@georgecostan3248

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

Wouldn't be surprised about Day's contribution to Strange World. Sanctuary was a song bought by the currently credited members and Ides of March became a song solely credited to Harris, which is not cool. Hallowed be thy Name also had legal issues concerning plagiarism.
@madebyJa13de

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

Just want to point out that (at the time I'm watching this video) you have 66.6k subscribers… Very fitting number 😂 let's make it 666k ❤
@TommyLedge

January 25, 2026 at 9:42 pm

First Paul Mario Day, now Terry Reid – Jimmy Page´s first choice for the lead vocals in Led Zeppelin. R.I.P. both!