FOUR former Iron Maiden members will headline a Bromsgrove festival this summer – in what will be the frontman’s last-ever performance on stage.

Paul Di’Anno – the original lead vocalist with the famous heavy metal band - will front Ides of March' headline set at Beermageddon in Stoke Prior in August.

The three-day festival runs over the Bank Holiday weekend from August 28-30 at the Stoke Prior Sports and Country Club in Westonhall Road.

Ides of March - a band specially formed as a one-off for the festival - will feature 62-year-old Di'Anno, frontman for Maiden from its 1977 inception until 1981, on vocals and three other ex-Maiden alumni.

They are guitarists Terry Wapram and Terry Rance plus drummer Doug Sampson, with Speed Harris - a bass player for tribute band Hi-On Maiden - the group's fifth and final member.

Their set will mark not only the 40th anniversary of the release of Iron Maiden's eponymous debut album, but will also be Di'Anno's last-ever gig due to health reasons.

Having twice battled cancer and also suffered an abscess on his lung, Di'Anno is taking his doctor's advice and retiring from the live stage.

Paul said: “It’s been a tough four years waiting to play again. I hope to be standing for this show and I’m really looking forward to it.

"Standing up would be great – if not, Hell on wheels coming to ya!”

The festival, where parking and camping is free, is in its ninth year, selling out the previous eight, with information about tickets and supporting acts available at www.beermageddon.co.uk

Organiser Jim Beerman added: “Beermageddon has always been about creating magical moments.

"And as an old-school metal head I can think of nothing better than closing this year's festival with Ides of March, musicians who have played such a pivotal role in the history of metal, playing songs, from arguably one of the greatest debut albums ever released, plus so much more, it doesn’t get any more magical than that.”