Iron Maiden - Rocker Paul Di'anno Announces Retirement

The 54-year-old rocker, who left the heavy metal band in 1981, has arranged to embark on one final solo tour and then call it quits by the end of 2013.

Announcing the news in a post on Facebook.com, he writes, "I am gonna be 'Pulling The Plug' next year 2013, and making it my 'Farewell Tour'. It was good whilst it lasted."

Besides his work with Iron Maiden, Di'Anno has fronted several other bands, including Battlezone, Praying Mantis, Killers, and Gogmagog.

The star was thought to be working on a new solo album with guitarist Paulo Turin in 2011, but the project stalled when he was sentenced to nine months in prison for swindling the British government out of $67,500 (£45,000) by falsely claiming nerve damage to his back prevented him from working.