lith the current Worldwide success of IRON MAIDEN, it seems appropriate for METAL FORCES to check-up the activities of possibly the band's most well known ex-member: Paul Di'anno. As many of you will know Paul formed his own band ~ LONEWOLF, after his split With MAIDEN, ~ut in the recent year or so not a lot has been heard from the man. (Except for the very occasional gig in East LondoD and the one support a10t to SAD CAFE at the Marquee). I caught up with Paul recently at his local drinking haunt The Royal Standard in Walthamstow, East London, which is tast becoming the number one rock pub in London. Inevitably I tirst a&ked Paul about his split with MAIDEN. Although he still gets on fine with the band, Steve Harris especially, Paul seems much happier now he is concentrating on his own projects. "The split with MAIDEN was a combination ot musical differences and personal problems" he says. The musical differences becaae apparent once LONEIOLF was formed. (Consisting ot Paul and the backing remains of a band called MINAS TIRITH). LONEWOLF, aa Paul readily accepts are a band in a far more commercial vein than MAIDEN. It i. easy to .ee that Paul Di'anno is into clas8 rock music rather than average HM (as can be seen frOm his list ot fave bands and singers - JOURNEY, FREE and vocalista such as Coverdale and Steve Perry.) However, success on any scale has eluded LONEWOLr almost completely. Paul puts this down to mainly aismanagement, although he is not surprised at the initial apathy of many U[ tans towards the band. "It's too complicated ausically compared to MAIDEN tor many people, althOUgh I feel there is now a lack ot direction and individual style with the band. I think LONEWOLF could have been a success, but the ba4 management overall prevented it." "The band have lost much enthusiasm because of this, for example we so rarely gig no-one gets to see ua." This aspect is certainly nO fault ot Paul Di'anno'a for he loves playing live and would have loved to have gone to the US with the band. You may have gathered already that things were far trom well in the LONEWOLF camp and it came as no surprise to learn that he was leaVing the band. ~We'll probably still do the LP we planned, but it look. as though it'll be Japanese only release, since no UK deal is in the offing." So what now? Paul introduced me to Tony Biggs and Darren Aldridge from a band called SHANGHAI TYGER. Things are in their early stagea at present, but it looks as though Paul will become a permanent member here. The ideas behind the band aeem exciting. a heavy but raunchy commercial band, Paul envisages a heavier uro type outfit, with a lot Of elase.
The line-up at present appears to be Paul on vocala, Darren on lead guitar and occasional keyboarda, Tony on guitar, Andy WrightoD on ba.a(remember him from DEEP MACHINE) and ROD Rebel on drums(MAIDEN'S tirst d~u. .er.) There is already an obvious 'spontanioua' feel to the ¡band. I could sense straight away an eagerness to make it work. Paul especially is prepared to start again frOm square one to get the project off the ground. He has never been just a poser living oft his past, he is keen to get off his backside and get thin~moving. He's got a retreshing down to earth attitude towards music, as he says '~usicians are just doing a job - Why are they so special?" He feels starting from the bottom is the best way tor any band and anyway as he rightly points out~ many of IRON MAIDEN's fans nowadays are only about 16 and don't remember the LP'e he appeared on. It is mainly abroad where he is best known and respected. Paul feels strongly about the attitude of both the media and the fans to DEF LEPPARD in the UK. "The band deaerve stardom" he says, but they just get shit on,here in the UK." I told him the rumour that Joe. Elliot had recently said in Japan that DEF LEPPARD don't ne.d the UK anymore, nor are the,. interested in the UK anymore. "If it's true I don't blame him for saying it." Even taking his attitude and the like of DEF LEPPARD into account, I found it surprising to hear that he tee1s that out of the NWOBHM only IRO. MAIDEN have the potential to become a "dinosaur type" band in the likes ot DEEP PURPLE or LED ZEPPELIN. However, I also sensed Paul had little time for many ot the newer band banda ot today. "The East London circuit is depressing. I rarely see bands nowadays. but when I do they COme across as MAIDEN/SAXON/ PRIEST clones." He teels strongly that bands should not just cater to a crowd - "It leads to a los. ot identity" he saya and I tend to agree, but unfortunately this could be one ot the reasons why LONEWOLF didn't make it - they were probably too original for many rock fans. St!ll. I sineerely hope Paul gets it right this time. With his talent and attitUde he deserves success. Let's hope with his new band SHANGHAI TYGER - he gets it. DAVE CONSTABLE