*Iron Maiden in 2003; Mick Hutson/Redferns*

Original Iron Maiden singer Paul Mario Day has died at the age of 69, according to a tribute shared by the British glam rock band Sweet on their official Facebook page.

“Paul passed away peacefully at his home in Australia,” the post reads.

Sweet guitarist Andy Scott reflected on Day’s time with the band, noting, “In 1985, Mick Tucker and I put together the first new line-up of Sweet after the hiatus of the original band. We needed a singer, and when Paul arrived for the audition, we looked no further.”

Day toured across Australia and Europe with Sweet and is featured on their 1989 Live at the Marquee album and DVD. Scott praised Day’s performance, adding that his vocals have “stood the test of time.”

Before joining Sweet, Paul Mario Day served as the lead vocalist for Iron Maiden from December 1975 until October 1976, when he was replaced by Dennis Wilcock. After his time with Maiden, Day went on to form the British heavy metal group More, and later joined Sweet during their revival in the mid-1980s.

His passing marks the end of a career that helped shape the early legacy of one of metal’s most iconic bands, while also leaving a lasting impact on Sweet’s post-hiatus era.

Content for this summary was derived from original reporting by ABC Audio, as featured on 105.7 The Point