Tonight was a tough call. Paul Di’Anno has not been laid to rest, and family and friends are still grieving. There was gossip about ‘cashing in’ and stories of the Manchester Memorial show being poorly supported. But last night, The Underworld in Camden was host to an evening that was wonderfully special as Heavy Metal fans descended in their numbers to sing and cheer in tribute to Paul Di’Anno.
Paul Di’Anno Memorial
The Underworld, Camden – 7 November 2024
Words And Photography: Steve Ritchie
There was always going to be a sense of damned if you do with this show. Electric Gypsy had made the investment and travelled from Brazil to tour with Paul, so it did feel fitting that they were able to play. I bought their two albums on CD and paid cash, and there were many others that helped out.
For every detractor, including the guy standing on the steps repeating “Run To The Hills,” there are so many more who had a personal reason to be there. These are not Paul’s family or friends.
“It has been 44 years since I first saw Iron Maiden,” Dougal told me. This is a man who had problems when he was younger, as have many. But he had come out the other side. “Tonight was going to be the first time I had met him,” he said. “It’s difficult to put into words the legacy he left behind.”
I had a great chat with the boys from Oakham, who had driven the 110 miles to be here tonight and were driving home directly after. That is why this evening was more about the fans than family or friends of Paul Di’Anno. It was a time to reflect, talk to fellow Maiden fans and sing.
Electric Gypsy
Paul Di’Anno loved Electric Gypsy, and it is easy to see why. This four-piece are really cool. You are sucked in by More Than Meets The Eye. Bassist Pete has that Greg Chaisson vibe, enhanced by the stetson. He is locked in tight with drummer Robert Zimmermann, providing the melting pot for guitarist Nolas to sprinkle his magic dust.
Vocalist Guzz Collins is exceptional. Burn gets aired as a cover, where Collins excels, Zimmermann throwing in some high screams, too. With Nolas on six-string, who needs a keyboard?
They take time to talk about Paul. This is Electric Gypsy’s second show on UK soil this month and Collins talks about the great honour they feel in being over here. “Every band in Brazil wants to play here,” he says, “as you are the Kings of rock ‘n’ roll.” They launch into The Devil Made Me Do It, and the crowd are definitely onside.
We get Ozzy’s Over The Mountain, where Zimmermann attacks the Lee Kerslake drum part with enthusiastic gusto. The guitar solo is immense.
Again, the band talks about Paul, but this is heartfelt, and you have to feel for them. There is a sense that this was not just an opportunity to travel but that this was also a textbook example of how friendships can be made through Heavy Metal music.
Til The Levee Runs Dry, from the debut album Mothership, is a standout. We get tutored on how to sing the chorus to Shoot ‘Em Down. “It’s a song inspired by ’80s Metal more than rock,” Collins says. The band play, and yes, we all sang in the right places. This was class.
Gypsy’s Kiss
Paul Di’Anno and David Smith go back years, being brought up in the same area and sharing sporting interests. With Gypsy’s Kiss celebrating their 50th Anniversary, there is also the Iron Maiden link there, so it made sense for them to be included on Paul’s tour.
Running straight into Traveller, the swelling crowd were hooked from the off. In the right venue, there is an epic feel to Take Me Down, and tonight, this sounded exceptional. It really got the crowd on side.
I was lucky enough to be stood in the sweet spot for the twin guitar opening of Endless Pit. This is recommended as you really feel the boost of that twin ear thing going on.
Three songs in, and Gypsy’s Kiss were on fire. “Paul would have been proud tonight,” David Smith said to big cheers of agreement. If the stories of Manchester being quiet were true, then tonight more than makes up for that.
A finishing trio of Smoke And Mirrors, Jack For All Times and My Own Holy Grail finished a great eight-song set to a wonderful reception.
I thought, at this point, what a difficult thing tonight was. Was it too early? The gigs had been booked. There was no right way to do this. That was a tough gig. But full praise to Gypsy’s Kiss. The boys did well.
Hi-On Maiden
How do you define the legacy of Paul Di’Anno? What does Paul Di’Anno mean in the world of Heavy Metal? Maybe tonight was a clue. Take the tracks from Iron Maiden and Killers, substitute Prodigal Son with Sanctuary and serve it up, with guests, to the crowd.
This results in a shared experience where everyone in the room knows every word in every song, and casual glances with strangers have you both leaning in and singing along. You don’t get that with many singers.
Tonight, we had Carl Williams, David Smith, Henrik Haugsnes Kaupang and Guzz Collins covering vocals. Simon Spense and MetalTalk’s Chris Dale was there on bass, with former Iron Maiden guitarist Terry Wapram joining for Prowler and Wrathchild.
We get the Ides Of March as the intro, then are hit with Sanctuary, Purgatory and Murders In The Rue Morgue. Drummer, guitarist and tonight, singer, Henrik Haugsnes Kaupang leads the charge all the way from Norway.
Running Free, led by David Smith, sounds especially immense. There is a huge smile of satisfaction on my face as we move into Genghis Khan. George Gt Stergiou and Adam Breyer are impeccable on the six strings. George, chewing, personifies cool. When we hit the slower part of the song, the pair knock it out of the park. Totally.
Carl Williams is up and carries the vocal on Innocent Exile very well. We all join in with Williams singing Charlotte The Harlot. The “Oh! Baby” is poignant. There are some damp eyes in the crowd, but we get to spit the vitriol of “To make your ends as a bloody whore,” which livens us up again.
It is around this point that the monotone geezer is repeating, “Run To The Hills.” Not loud and not with any anger, but his 1,2,3,4 delivery makes us all stop. He gets his moment. “I think you’re at the wrong gig, mate,” puts him to bed.
Another Life is exceptional, Breyer shines, while in Strange World, George hits the solo after the middle to the back of the hall. An epic run though of Transylvania and Guzz Collins is up for Killers, Remember Tomorrow and Phantom Of The Opera. George deserves a high-five for that first Phantom solo, while Breyer is superb, again, and those in the crowd who can jump do so.
Yes, of course, Collins nails those Killers screams.
Henrik is back for Iron Maiden, asking, “Who will sing the chorus?” That will be us, mate. Then it’s Drifter to close. “Gonna sing my song, yeah, and it won’t take long.”
We helped Electric Gypsy, we toasted Gypsy’s Kiss and we sang our hearts out to Paul Di’Anno and Iron Maiden.
Most of the people tonight had never met Paul. They were not family or friends. But these are people who have had a relationship with these 18 songs, many for 44 years. Tonight was a chance for them to remember, respect and share personal memories.
At The Underworld, everyone in the room knew every word Paul Di’Anno sang to every Iron Maiden song tonight, and that is what makes him special. RIP Paul.
