Paul Di'Anno verbally attacked a fan who attended the former IRON MAIDEN vocalist's November 3 performance at Liverpool in Donetsk, Ukraine after the man kept calling out the name of the band's current lead singer - and Di'Anno's replacement - Bruce Dickinson.
In the video clip below, the fan in question can be heard repeatedly shouting out Dickinson's name in heavily accented English, prompting Di'Anno to respond, "I'm sorry. I don't sing opera. [Singing in operatic style] 'Run to the hills…' [That's] too fucking easy, and I'm not gay. This is punk. If you like Bruce Dickinson, go home and listen to his records."
He continued, "Why did you come and buy a ticket, motherfucker? This is real punk, man. This is what made IRON MAIDEN. Not the money-making machine. Why don't you go fuck yourself? I come up here to work hard. If you don't like me, fuck off! I'm sorry. I didn't say I was a nice guy, man. You fuck me up, I'll kick your fucking ass… and anybody else."
He then added, "OK, I'm gonna do the one song, which I wrote this song. This is the song that made IRON MAIDEN famous. This is about sex, drugs, rock and roll, Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Hells Angels forever. 'Running Free'."
Di'Anno recorded two classic albums with IRON MAIDEN before being fired and replaced by Bruce Dickinson. He went on to front a number of other bands, including KILLERS and BATTLEZONE, and released several solo records.
