Paul Di'Anno gives fresh verdict on Ghost's cover of Iron Maiden's 'Phantom of the Opera'
He had initially blasted the track
Last updated 31st May 2023
Former Iron Maiden frontman Paul Di’Anno has given his candid verdict on Ghost’s recently premiered cover of Maiden’s timeless anthem ‘Phantom of the Opera.’
Ghost’s version of Iron Maiden’s 1980 track ‘Phantom of the Opera’ is one of five covers on their ‘Phantomime’ EP, which dented the UK album chart last week at Number 8.
Shortly after the song premiered on 16th May, Paul Di’Anno took to Facebook to lash out at the track, writing: "Everyone asking my opinion on the ghost cover of phantom well not that it matters but it fkn sucks."
Di’Anno swiftly deleted the post, which also included three vomit emojis.
Two weeks on, Paul Di’Anno has appeared on Loaded Radio, and he was asked about the Facebook post and his current thoughts on the track.
Although his opinion has softened somewhat, Di’Anno critiqued Ghost leader Tobias Forge’s vocals.
"The music's great. I just don't think Tobias f---ing tried hard enough vocally. He sounds a bit plain… And he changed the lyrics slightly… That was a bit weird,” Di’Anno said via Blabbermouth.
Commenting on his Facebook post, Di’Anno continued: "When I first heard it, I was probably in a bad mood that day. I said, 'This is f---ing bulls---.' But I've listened to it about three or four times.
“(The music is) pretty damn good, actually, to be honest with you. But as I said, I just feel like Tobias didn't give it some welly. As we say, give me some f---ing welly."
"Regardless of what you think of Ghost, I'm very happy for them," Di’Anno added. "Maybe I was just pissed off with life, as usual. The older I get, the grumpier I am. F---ing great. Once you get over 50, you've got every f---ing right to say what you want.
"As I said, I just wish he'd put a bit more effort into the vocals. That's all."
Ghost’s ‘Phantomime EP’ also features covers of Genesis’ ‘Jesus He Knows Me’, Television’s ‘See No Evil’, The Stranglers’ ‘Hanging Around’ and Tina Tuner’s 'We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)'.
Paul Di’Anno plays KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton on Thursday 6th July 2023 as special guest to KK’s Priest at their first ever live show.
Di’Anno’s former band Iron Maiden kicked off The Future Past Tour this week with a setlist packed with rarities and live debuts.
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The real names of famous rock stars including Paul Di'Anno:
Cozy Powell’s real name: Colin Trevor Flooks
Alex Lifeson’s real name: Alexandar Živojinović
'Lifeson' is a semi-literal English translation of the Yugoslavian surname Živojinović, which means 'son of life'
Ginger Baker's real name: Peter Edward Baker
John 5’s real name: John William Lowery
Yngwie Malmsteen’s real name: Lars Johann Yngwie Lannerback
Rudy Sarzo’s real name: Rodolfo Maximiliano Sarzo Lavieille Grande Ruiz Payret y Chaumont
Eric Carr's real name: Paul Charles Caravello
Vinnie Vincent’s real name: Vincent John Cusano
Tina Turner’s real name: Anna Mae Bullock
King Diamond’s real name: Kim Bendix Petersen
Joey Tempest's real name: Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson
Michael Monroe’s real name: Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm
Mikkey Dee’s real name: Micael Kiriakos Delaoglou
Jonathan Cain’s real name: Jonathan Leonard Friga
Nikki Sixx's real name: Frank Ferrano
Steven Adler’s real name: Michael Coletti
Axl Rose's real name: William Bruce Rose
Bon Scott's real name: Ronald Belford Scott
Fish’s real name: Derek William Dick
Eddie Vedder's real name: Edward Louis Severson III
Peter Criss’ real name: George Peter John Criscuola
Freddie Mercury's real name: Farrokh Bulsara
Flea's real name: Michael Peter Balzary
Perry Farrell's real name: Perry Bernstein
Geddy Lee’s real name: Gary Lee Weinrib
Mick Mars' real name: Robert Deal
Tré Cool's real name: Frank Edwin Wright III
Courtney Love's real name: Courtney Michelle Harrison
Pat Smear's real name: Georg Albert Ruthenberg
Gene Simmons' real name: Chaim Klein Witz
Spike’s real name: Jonathan Gray
Iggy Pop's real name: James Newell Osterberg, JR.
Alice Cooper's real name: Vincent Damon Furnier
Slash's real name: Saul Hudson
Mike Dirnt's real name: Michael Ryan Pritchard
Ronnie James Dio's real name: Ronald James Padavona
Brody Dalle's real name: Bree Joanna Alice Robinson
Skin's real name: Deborah Anne Dyer
Nicky Wire's real name: Nicholas Jones
Amy Lee's real name: Amy Lynn Hartzler
Bill Wyman's real name: William Perks
Izzy Stradlin's real name: Jeffrey Isbell
Paul Stanley's real name: Stanley Eisen
Vince Neil's real name: Vincent Neil Wharton
Duff McKagan's real name: Michael McKagan
Jack Black’s real name: Thomas Jacob Black
Lemmy's real name: Ian Fraser Kilmister
John Paul Jones' real name: John Baldwin
Joan Jett's real name: Joan Larkin
Eric Clapton's real name: Eric Patrick Clapp
Siouxsie Sioux's real name: Susan Janet Ballion
Rachel Bolan’s real name: James Richard Southworth
David Bowie's real name: David Robert Hayward Stenton Jones
Little Richard's real name: Richard Wayne Penniman
Sid Vicious' real name: John Simon Ritchie
Ace Frehley's real name: Paul Daniel Frehley
Lou Reed's real name: Louis Firbank
Joe Strummer's real name: John Graham Mellor
Marc Bolan's real name: Mark Feld
The Edge's real name: David Howell Evans
Meat Loaf's real name: Marvin Lee Aday
Steven Tyler's real name: Steven Victor Tallarico
Ozzy Osbourne's real name: John Michael Osbourne
Jon Bon Jovi's real name: John Francis Bongiovi
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Bono's real name: Paul David Hewson
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Billy Idol’s real name: William Michael Albert Broad
Geezer Butler’s real name: Terence Butler
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Bo Diddley’s real name: Ellas McDaniel
Muddy Waters’ real name: McKinley Morganfield
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Doro’s real name: Dorothee Pesch
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Joe Perry’s real name: Joseph Pereira
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Phil X’s real name: Theofilos Xenidis
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