THE EX-FACTOR
Between 1975 and 1980, Maiden got through five guitarists, three drummers, two vocalists and a keyboard player. We track down some of those missing in action…
WORDS: MALCOLM DOME
GETTY/VIRGINIA TURBETT
PAUL MARIO DAY
Vocals, 1975-76
“I worked close to where Steve Harris lived. One day I saw him the street, and asked whether he was looking for a singer. This was at the end of Gypsy’s Kiss, and they had a singer at the time. But shortly after he said he’d give me a try. My first gig was at a church hall in front of about 10 or 20 people. But we quickly got a residency at the Cart & Horses every Thursday. We mostly did original material, songs that would end up on the first two Maiden albums. But we’d also do the occasional cover. The band’s sound was already in place. I wasn’t an experienced frontman, and that eventually counted against me. They wanted me to be more showbiz, and I didn’t know how. I also wanted to spend more time with my girlfriend, and couldn’t get time off work for gigs. So they finally got rid of me. I emigrated to Australia in 1986. I keep my hand in, by singing with a covers band at weekends.”