Paul Mario Day, the English vocalist best known for his role as the original singer of metal icons Iron Maiden, has passed away at the age of 69.

Day’s tenure with the early Iron Maiden lineup was short-lived, having been recruited by bassist Steve Harris to join the band in late 1975. The band’s initial lineup lasted only for ten months, with Day exiting the group following claims he lacked both energy and charisma.

“When I sang in Iron Maiden, it was a new pub band and nobody wanted to see or hear them,” Day later recalled of his time in the group. “We were all nobodys all trying to make the best music we could and fighting for an audience.”

Though a live member with no recorded output to his name, Day was replaced by Dennis Wilcock who himself a short-lived member of the group, lasting only until 1978 without appearing on any recorded material. Wilcock was later replaced by Paul Di’Anno, who performed on the band’s first two albums before being succeeded by longtime vocalist Bruce Dicksinson.

Iron Maiden’s self-titled 1980 debut album also contained the track “Strange World,” which Day later claimed he had co-written without being properly credited. “Back then we were all pulling for the same side and it still hurts to think the first-ever song I ever composed was on a big-selling album and nobody knows it was me,” he said.

In 2019, however, Day asserted the issue of co-authorship was “finished with,” adding that “everything’s fine as far as that’s concerned.”

Following his brief stint with Iron Maiden, Day also fronted the groups More and Wildfire, before joining a reformed version of English glam rockers Sweet as their lead vocalist alongside guitarist Andy Scott and drummer Mick Tucker.

“In 1985 Mick Tucker and myself put together the first new line-up of Sweet after the hiatus of the original band,” Scott wrote in a tribute post shared to Facebook. “We needed a singer and when Paul arrived for the audition we looked no further. 

“Our first dates were in Australia, total sell-outs which boded well for the future. Europe followed suit and 3 sold out nights at the Marquee in London produced a live album, video and DVD. Live at the Marquee did well in various charts around the world and Paul’s vocal performance has stood the test of time.”

“Paul was a huge part of the NWOBHM [New Wave of British Heavy Metal] from his time in an early version of Iron Maiden and of course his fantastic performance on the Warhead album,” a social media statement from More said of Day’s legacy. 

“He was a well loved figure in British rock music and played many memorable shows not least the legendary 1981 Monsters of Rock show at Castle Donington with AC/DC, Whitesnake/David Coverdale as well as tours with Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and many other legendary artists.”

Day relocated to Australia in the ’80s, where he continued to operate as an active musician until his passing.

“My deepest condolences to his wife Cecily and family and friends,” Scott added in his post. “A sad day for all Sweet fans.”