ANDI DERIS Says He Abandoned IRON MAIDEN After Paul Di’Anno Was Replaced by Bruce Dickinson

Andi Deris, longtime vocalist of Helloween, recently opened up about a personal turning point as a heavy metal fan. In a chat with the Scars and Guitars podcast, Deris explained how he reacted when Bruce Dickinson joined Iron Maiden in the early 1980s, replacing original frontman Paul Di’Anno. His reaction wasn’t exactly enthusiastic.

While Dickinson’s arrival helped Maiden reach new heights, not everyone jumped on board right away. Deris admitted that, as a fan at the time, he actually walked away from the band.

“Yes, I know Paul Di’Anno isn’t as good as Bruce Dickinson,” Deris said. “But still, those are the albums I more or less grew up with in metal, so I’ll always love those two Paul Di’Anno albums.” He was referring to Iron Maiden and Killers, the band’s first two full-length records.

“When Paul left the band, I, as a fan, at that time, kind of abandoned Maiden,” Deris explained, adding with a laugh, “Maybe that’s the right description.” That’s right, he didn’t just dislike the change; he bailed completely.

A personal shift

Deris wasn’t claiming that Dickinson lacked talent. In fact, he praised many of the songs from the Dickinson era. But the switch hit him at the wrong time, especially since he had grown attached to Maiden’s earlier sound. That raw, street-level energy Di’Anno brought to the band connected deeply with fans like Deris.

Over time, of course, he came back around. “Only to rediscover them later,” he admitted.

The full-circle moment shows how deeply personal music fandom can be. Sometimes it’s not about which singer is technically better. It’s about which one meant something at a specific time in someone’s life. For Deris, Di’Anno’s rougher edge felt more aligned with his early metal experiences.

Di’Anno’s legacy

Paul Di’Anno fronted Iron Maiden from 1978 until 1981. His gritty vocal style helped define the band’s early sound and set the stage for their explosion in popularity. Despite being replaced by Dickinson, a singer whose voice would help catapult the band into global superstardom, Di’Anno’s contributions still hold strong with many fans, especially those who followed the group from the beginning.

Di’Anno died on October 21, 2024, at the age of 66. His passing led to renewed appreciation of his era in Maiden history. For fans like Deris, his legacy had already been cemented long before.

Helloween’s own reunion

Deris’s comments came while promoting Helloween’s new album Giants & Monsters, due out August 29 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The topic came up during a broader conversation about how Helloween has managed to blend multiple eras of the band into one stage and studio lineup.

Since 2016, Helloween has performed and recorded with a “reunited and expanded” formation, featuring vocalists Michael Kiske, Kai Hansen, and Andi Deris together. The band also includes guitarists Michael Weikath and Sascha Gerstner, bassist Markus Grosskopf, and drummer Daniel Löble.

Deris believes this seven-member version of the band can please fans from all Helloween generations. “You can satisfy automatically all the generations of Helloween fans,” he said. “We’re running into three generations.” He pointed to the early albums like Walls of Jericho and Keeper of the Seven Keys as being especially tied to Kiske’s presence.

The “Pumpkins United” model

Helloween’s current era began with the Pumpkins United tour and carried into the 2021 self-titled album Helloween, which debuted in the Top 10 in over 10 countries.

Deris credits the success of this reunion to the band’s willingness to leave egos behind. He recalled how Van Halen’s failed attempt to reunite David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar served as a cautionary tale. He didn’t want Helloween to fall into the same trap.

“We told everybody, ‘Yes, we wanna do that Pumpkins United tour. And we swear we’re gonna stick together until the end of the tour, even if we would hate ourselves and try not to kick our @#$%es on stage,’” he joked.

Thankfully, there were no onstage fistfights. In fact, Deris says the bond with Kiske became deeper than he expected. “This could have been a friend for life,” he said. “I miss him actually… that’s good friendship, and better late than ever.” Then, with his usual sarcasm, Deris added, “Unfortunately, we’re not gay. That would’ve been the next step. I’m just disgusted by just thinking about it.” Laughs followed.

New album and tour

Giants & Monsters was produced by Charlie Bauerfeind and Dennis Ward, with mixing at Wisseloord Studios in the Netherlands. The album promises a mix of power metal, pop-influenced hooks, and even some ballads. Deris says he now feels totally free to write in any style he wants, especially with Kiske on board to help execute those ideas live.

Songs from the album include Giants on the Run, Into the Sun, and A Little Is a Little Too Much.

Helloween will support the release with a 40th anniversary world tour, starting with sold-out European dates in October. A North American run is expected to follow.

Full circle

It’s a bit ironic that Deris, who once abandoned Iron Maiden after a lineup change, now finds himself in a band that’s built an entire chapter around embracing multiple eras. Rather than picking sides, Helloween brings them all together on the same stage.

Fans who once had to choose between Kiske’s soaring highs and Deris’s melodic edge no longer have to. They get both.

And in a small, unexpected way, Deris’s early disappointment with Iron Maiden might’ve helped shape how Helloween learned to do things differently.

At least nobody got their @#$ kicked in Vegas.

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