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Members of heavy metal band Iron Maiden have said they are “deeply saddened” following the death of former bandmate Paul Di’Anno.

Di’Anno sang with the British band between 1978 and 1981 and featured on their self-titled debut album and its follow-up Killers – singing songs such as Running Free, Sanctuary and Remember Tomorrow.

His death was announced by record label Conquest Records on behalf of his family on Monday.

He died at his home in Salisbury at the age of 66, it added.

A statement posted on the Iron Maiden official X account said: “We are all deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Paul Di’Anno earlier today.

“Paul’s contribution to Iron Maiden was immense and helped set us on the path we have been travelling as a band for almost five decades.

“His pioneering presence as a frontman and vocalist, both on stage and on our first two albums, will be very fondly remembered not just by us, but by fans around the world.

“On behalf of the band, Rod and Andy, and the whole Iron Maiden team, we extend our deepest sympathies to Paul’s family and close friends. Rest in peace Paul.”

Steve Harris, bass player and founder of Iron Maiden, was quoted as saying: “It’s just so sad he’s gone.”

**FILE PHOTO** Paul Di'Anno Has Passed Away. NEW YORK CITY - NY JULY 23: Paul Di'Anno of Iron Maiden performs at The Palladium during The Killers Tour as opening act for Judas Priest on July 23, 1981 in New York City, New York. Credit: mpi04/MediaPunch /IPX
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Di’Anno in 1981. Pic: mpi04/MediaPunch/IPX via AP

He said he spoke with Di’Anno recently, adding: “At least he was still gigging until recently, it was something that kept him going, to be out there whenever he could.

“He will be missed by us all. Rest in peace mate.”

**FILE PHOTO** Paul Di'Anno Has Passed Away. NEW YORK CITY - NY JULY 23: Paul Di'Anno, Steve Harris and Dave Murray of Iron Maiden perform at The Palladium during The Killers Tour as opening act for Judas Priest on July 23, 1981 in New York City, New York. Credit: mpi04/MediaPunch /IPX
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Di’Anno, Steve Harris and Dave Murray of Iron Maiden during The Killers Tour. Pic: AP

Di’Anno was known for his aggressive voice, which gave the band a more punk-style sound.

He was forced to miss most of his debut Iron Maiden show after being arrested for carrying a knife.

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In 1981 he was dismissed from the band due to his erratic behaviour and drug usage. He was replaced by Bruce Dickinson, the group’s current singer, but continued to make guest appearances.

After leaving the band, Di’Anno went on to record a number of solo albums and performed as part of other bands including Battlezone and Killers.

He married five times and fathered six children.

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Voice behind top Simpsons character quits after 35 years on hit show

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Voice behind top Simpsons character quits after 35 years on hit show

The voice actor behind Milhouse Van Houten – Bart Simpson’s very uncool friend – is stepping away after 35 years on the show.

Pamela Hayden, who also voiced Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey and Malibu Stacy, will sign off from The Simpsons on 24 November in a Treehouse of Horror episode.

“It’s been an honour and a joy to have worked on such a funny, witty, and groundbreaking show,” the 70-year-old said in a statement.

Pamela Hayden. File pic: AP
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Pamela Hayden. File pic: AP

Show creator Matt Groening said: “Pamela gave us tons of laughs with Milhouse, the hapless kid with the biggest nose in Springfield.

“She made Milhouse hilarious and real, and we will miss her.”

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Milhouse first appeared in a Butterfinger commercial in 1989 and was named after former US president Richard Milhous Nixon.

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Groening said he adopted it “because that was the most unfortunate name a kid could have”.

The nearsighted character was often the butt of most jokes and bullied mercilessly by Nelson.

In one episode, Bart got Milhouse placed on the America’s Most Wanted list.

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Tulisa Contostavlos: ‘My life fell apart’ after fake sheikh set up drugs bust

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Tulisa Contostavlos: 'My life fell apart' after fake sheikh set up drugs bust

Tulisa Contostavlos has opened up about the moment she says her life “fell apart” after being “set up by a British newspaper” and charged with supplying drugs.

The N-Dubz star has been speaking about her experiences in 2013 on the reality show, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!

The charges against the singer were later dismissed after prosecution witness “fake sheikh” journalist Mazher Mahmood was found to have tampered with evidence during her 2014 trial.

“2013 was the year I was set up by a British newspaper, for concern in the selling of class A drugs,” she told fellow campmate Oti Mabuse.

“The guy’s name was Mahmood and basically, I was approached by a big movie company and they sent me a tweet or a DM from their official account to audition me for a movie role… I’d dabbled in acting, so this opportunity for me was huge.”

Contostavlos, 36, said the role was offering £3.5m and she was flown out for meetings with producers in Las Vegas but told former Strictly Come Dancing star Mabuse “it was a lie”.

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She claimed the team behind the movie encouraged her to take on a real-life role of a “bad girl from London who was constantly up to naughtiness, rolling with gangs, up to all kinds of naughty stuff”.

Contostavlos said “they had me dangling on the end of a string”, claiming every time she met with the team they would tell her “we need some drugs”.

“After months and months, eventually they got a number and it was of someone that wasn’t even a drug dealer, it was an aspiring movie producer and I wanted to make a hook up as well for that person, but I didn’t know anyone that could do that,” she said.

“The long story short is they ended up ordering £800 worth of cocaine from the number that I had given them.

“Then before I knew it, I was being arrested in the concern of the selling of Class A drugs and I was facing four years in prison.”

Contostavlos revealed she lost “all my endorsements” over the incident and “my life fell apart”, she said.

“When it came to the trial, I’d had a conversation with one of their drivers, I was being recorded but I didn’t know, I was saying how anti-drugs I am, so they were very aware of my feelings towards drugs.”

Contostavlos said the driver initially gave a statement confirming she was anti-drugs, however she claimed that as the trial loomed the journalist forced him to change his statement.

In 2016, Mahmood was jailed for 15 months after being found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice relating to his actions in Tulisa Contostavlos’s court case.

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Liam Payne’s One Direction bandmates Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson among mourners as funeral takes place

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Liam Payne's One Direction bandmates Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson among mourners as funeral takes place

Friends and family of Liam Payne, including his One Direction bandmates, have gathered to say goodbye at his funeral.

Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik were among the family and friends attending the private ceremony.

Simon Cowell, who put the band together on The X Factor, Payne‘s girlfriend Kate Cassidy, and former partner Cheryl were also there.

The 31-year-old died after he fell from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 16 October.

Fans from around the world have held their own vigils over the past few weeks, and tributes have been left today in his hometown, Wolverhampton.

Former One Direction band member Louis Tomlinson arrives for the funeral service of One Direction singer Liam Payne at St Mary's Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Picture date: Wednesday November 20, 2024. PA Photo. The singer died after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires last month, at the age of 31. See PA story FUNERAL Payne. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
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Louis Tomlinson is also attending the ceremony. Pic: PA

Damian Hurley (right) and Kate Cassidy (centre) arrive for the funeral service of One Direction singer Liam Payne at St Mary's Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Picture date: Wednesday November 20, 2024. PA Photo. The singer died after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires last month, at the age of 31. See PA story FUNERAL Payne. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
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Damian Hurley (right) arrived with Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy (centre). Pic: PA

Payne’s dark blue coffin, topped with white roses, arrived for the service on a horse-drawn carriage, bearing flowers reading “son” and “daddy” – for his son, Bear, with Cheryl.

Her Girls Aloud bandmates Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh were also among those at the service, along with TV and radio presenters including James Corden, Marvin and Rochelle Humes, Scott Mills, and Adrian Chiles, and former professional footballer Robbie Keane.

US influencer Cassidy, who returned home from Argentina two days before his death, arrived with Damian Hurley, son of Elizabeth Hurley.

As Payne’s mother and father, Geoff and Karen, arrived at the church in the Home Counties, standing next to the carriage, silence fell among mourners outside.

A few locals and fans also gathered nearby, but in the main largely stayed away from the private ceremony.

Zayn Malik arrives to attend the funeral of former One Direction singer Liam Payne at St. Mary's Church in Amersham, near London, Britain, November 20, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville
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Zayn Malik. Pic: Reuters

Former One Direction band member Niall Horan (centre) arrives for the funeral service of One Direction singer Liam Payne at St Mary's Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Picture date: Wednesday November 20, 2024. PA Photo. The singer died after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires last month, at the age of 31. See PA story FUNERAL Payne. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
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Niall Horan. Pic: PA

Payne rose to worldwide fame alongside Styles, Tomlinson, Malik and Horan on The X Factor in 2010, when they were put together to form One Direction. They went on to become one of the most successful UK pop groups of all time.

After the band announced their hiatus, the singer launched his solo career, releasing his debut album LP1 in December 2019.

His solo hits included Strip That Down, Bedroom Floor and For You, a collaboration with singer Rita Ora – who paid tribute to Payne as she hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards in Manchester.

Prosecutors in Argentina have launched an investigation into Payne’s death and announced earlier this month that three people had been charged in connection with the incident.

File photo dated 19/02/14 of (left to right) Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Nial Horan from One Direction with their Awards in the press room at the 2014 Brit Awards at the O2 Arena, London.. Liam Payne has died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, according to local officials. He was 31. Issue date: Wednesday October 16, 2024.
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One Direction in 2014: Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Nial Horan. Pic: PA

One Direction tributes

Payne’s One Direction bandmates all publicly paid tribute following his death.

“His greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it,” said Styles in his statement. “Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious.

“He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.”

Tomlinson said he had “lost a brother” and offered to be an uncle to Payne’s son, Bear, if he “ever needs me”.

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A horse-drawn carriage carrying the coffin of Liam Payne arrives for the funeral service.
Pic: PA
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A horse-drawn carriage carried Payne’s coffin. Pic: PA

Floral tributes to singer Liam Payne at a memorial in West Park in his hometown of Wolverhampton. The funeral of the One Direction star will be held today in the Home Counties. Picture date: Wednesday November 20, 2024. PA Photo. The singer died after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires last month, at the age of 31. See PA story FUNERAL Payne. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire
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Flowers have also been left in West Park in his hometown of Wolverhampton. Pic: PA

Horan, who had been touring in South America and saw Payne at his show in the weeks before his death, said: “I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking.”

Malik said Payne had supported him “through some of the most difficult times” of his life, and said he always had a “positive outlook and reassuring smile”.

Cowell also paid tribute, saying he was “devastated” and “heartbroken”.

He continued: “I wanted to let you know what I would always say to the thousands of people who would always ask me. What is Liam like? And I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused. And how much you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans.”

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