pip error: invalid command 'dist_info'

$ python -m pip install dist/slz-0.0.0.1.tar.gz
DEPRECATION: Python 2.7 reached the end of its life on January 1st, 2020. Please upgrade your Python as Python 2.7 is no longer maintained. pip 21.0 will drop support for Python 2.7 in January 2021. More details about Python 2 support in pip can be found at https://pip.pypa.io/en/latest/development/release-process/#python-2-support pip 21.0 will remove support for this functionality.
Defaulting to user installation because normal site-packages is not writeable
Processing ./dist/slz-0.0.0.1.tar.gz
  Installing build dependencies ... done
  Getting requirements to build wheel ... done
  Installing backend dependencies ... done
    Preparing wheel metadata ... error
    ERROR: Command errored out with exit status 1:
     command: /usr/bin/python /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pip/_vendor/pep517/_in_process.py prepare_metadata_for_build_wheel /tmp/tmpZQQe8U
         cwd: /tmp/pip-req-build-VTEQLP
    Complete output (6 lines):
    usage: _in_process.py [global_opts] cmd1 [cmd1_opts] [cmd2 [cmd2_opts] ...]
       or: _in_process.py --help [cmd1 cmd2 ...]
       or: _in_process.py --help-commands
       or: _in_process.py cmd --help
    
    error: invalid command 'dist_info'
    ----------------------------------------
ERROR: Command errored out with exit status 1: /usr/bin/python /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pip/_vendor/pep517/_in_process.py prepare_metadata_for_build_wheel /tmp/tmpZQQe8U Check the logs for full command output.

Somehow my machine had several setuptools installation. Removing them all and reinstalling only 44.1.1 fixed the issue.