Russ North (22 July 1965 – 1 January 2025) was an English singer, best known for his role in the heavy metal band Cloven Hoof.
Former Tredegar guitarist Andy Wood had joined Cloven Hoof, which in 1986 was being rebuilt by its last original member, bassist Lee Payne, after losing Rob Kendrick (vocals), Stephen Rounds (guitar) and Kevin Pountey (drums).
North also reached the final two in the auditions to replace Bruce Dickinson in Iron Maiden in 1993, joining Blaze Bayley at bassist Steve Harris's house.
Bayley, who was already a friend of the band and a member of Iron Maiden's own football team, won through, while North went to live in Spain.
Payne declared himself "humiliated, ashamed and disgusted" at North's act of "professional suicide",[2] and the incident effectively ended the 30-year friendship between the two.