After a solitary spin, I think I borrowed my friend Duer's copy of Iron Maiden's second album, Killers in 1981 ... and I'm honestly not sure I ever gave it back (sorry, Du), besotted with Derick Riggs' gruesome cover-portrait of bloody-axe wielding Eddie and the gruff, almost-punky vocal delivery of spike-sporting Paul Di'Anno.
Iron Maiden quickly became a favorite band and stalwarts of the N.W.O.B.H.M. (look it up). Paul bowed out before their third record and was replaced by the higher-piped Bruce Dickinson, with whom the band conquered the globe (without much-if-any radio airplay), but I still love those first two rough-hewn records with Paul's less-polished voice.
Paul's death at age 66 was just announced, after years of health problems that confined him to a wheelchair.
Pour one out and UP THE IRONS!
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