Just over six months since the Metal world lost Paul Di’Anno, three powerhouse bands—Airforce, SNOG, and Hi-On Maiden—gathered in Camden’s legendary The Underworld to pay fiery tribute to the NWOBHM pioneer. As part of the evening, we spoke with Mark Inman, a long-time friend of Paul Di’Anno.
Mark Inman, the guitarist in Boneyard Dogs, was a close friend, personal assistant and roadie for Paul Di’Anno and was due to play on stage with Hi-On Maiden. Mark said that for him, the evening was one to respect and honour the memory of Paul Di’Anno.
“We’re all coming together, his friends and his family, and just celebrating his life,” Mark said. “You know he was a good man, and we would like to remember him, and this is one way of doing that. We want to show our respect for him.”
Paul Di’Anno was friends with many, but his and Mark’s relationship was a really special close relationship. “I think because I was disabled and he was struggling with disability, I seemed to understand him and he understood me,” Mark said. “His fame and everything aside, we actually bonded on a different level. As you say, I took care of him and I did a lot for him. It was just part of life for us.
“The way we bonded, we understood each other completely. At the end of the day, we really enjoyed each other’s company more than anything. He was a mad bastard, and so am I.”
The plan for Mark to play on stage did not happen, but he would have been using a special guitar. “Les Paul,” Mark says. “A white one. Paul helped me buy it. We actually bought it just after a tour. He wanted to pay me for going on tour with him, and as his friend, I said, No, you’re not paying me. Instead of paying me, he paid off the guitar that I was buying. It’s a very special guitar and one that I’ll treasure forever.”
When talking with Mark, you have to ask about the Turnip Incidents. “The turnip? Well now, my nickname is Baldrick,” Mark says. “The man with the cunning plan. Paul paid me in turnips. That was my payment.”
Did Mark get paid well, though? “One special half turnip for Christmas,” he says, “and a quarter turnip for Easter.”
There was a Turnip Presentation at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in August 2023. “It was quite hilarious, actually,” Mark smiles. “Paul called me out on stage. Chris Dale was on stage as a guest, and so was Courtney Cox. The Hi-On Maiden lads were on stage with Paul as well for the tour. He called me out and presented me with a turnip in front of about a good couple of thousand people.”
The Underworld crowd were treated to a night of thunderous riffs, raw emotion, and unforgettable performances that truly honoured the former Iron Maiden frontman’s legacy.
What does Mark think Paul would have made of it all?
“He would probably go, you’re a bunch of bloody idiots wasting your time like that. Go and do something constructive.”
