Eddie the Head
Encyclopedia
Eddie, also known as Eddie The Head, is the mascot
for the British
heavy metal band, Iron Maiden
. He is a perennial fixture of the group's artwork, appearing in all of their record covers (including most of their singles) and in their merchandise, which includes t-shirts, posters and action figures. On top of this, Eddie features in all of the band's concerts, as well as in the first-person shooter
video game, Ed Hunter
, and as an unlockable character in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
.
mould of his own face, which was then used in the band's backdrop, consisting of LED lights and the band's logo. At the end of their live set, during the "Iron Maiden
" song, a fish-tank pump was used to squirt fake blood out of the mask's mouth, which typically covered their drummer, Doug Sampson
. After this initial incarnation, Lights constructed a larger mask out of fibreglass, equipped with flashing eyes and the ability to release red smoke from its mouth.
According to guitarist, Dave Murray
, the name, "Eddie The Head", was inspired by an old joke:
Once Iron Maiden had secured a record contract with EMI
, the band's manager, Rod Smallwood
, decided that the band needed "that one figure who utterly stamped his presence and image on the band in a way that was obvious enough to make a good album cover." After seeing some of his artwork on a Max Middleton
poster, Smallwood set up a meeting with Derek Riggs
and asked to see some of his other illustrations, in the midst of which was the band's first album
cover. Originally created as an idea for a punk record, which Riggs states in the 12 Wasted Years
documentary was based on an alleged American's skull stuck to a Vietnamese tank, the band had extra hair added to the illustration, making it more suitable to their style of music, and transferred the name from the original masks they used onstage. Surmising that the creature had "great visual continuity," Smallwood decided it would be used for all of the band's artwork.
Smallwood claims that Rupert Perry
, EMI's then managing director, came up with the idea that Eddie could become a more active part of the band's concerts, originally portrayed by Smallwood himself, wearing an Eddie mask and a leather jacket. The classic "walk-on" Eddie was created for The Beast on the Road
tour by Dave Lights after seeing a pantomime version of Jack and the Beanstalk
, which used similar giants consisting of "basically a bloke on stilts but dressed up to look about ten feet tall." As the band's stage show expanded, an additional gigantic Eddie was also incorporated at the back of the set during "Iron Maiden", which, like the "walk-on" Eddie, would match the theme of the current tour, such as the 30-foot, mummified version used during the World Slavery Tour
which shot sparks from its eyes.
Eddie's debut appearance was on the band's first single cover, "Running Free
," in which his face was covered by shadow to protect his identity before the release of the band's first album. Since then, Eddie has assumed a different guise for each cover, such as a "mummified Egyptian god" for Powerslave
, a lobotomised mental patient for Piece of Mind
, emerging from a grave in Live After Death
, and a cyborg for Somewhere in Time, some of which proved controversial, such as the cover of "Sanctuary
," in which Eddie can be seen standing over the corpse of Margaret Thatcher
. It was claimed that Iron Maiden were banned from releasing the single without censoring the cover, blacking out Thatcher's face, although Riggs has since claimed that this was fabricated by the band's management to gain publicity in the British tabloids.
The most amount of controversy, however, was reserved for the band's third album, The Number of the Beast
, whose artwork depicted Eddie controlling Satan
like a marionette. Originally created by Riggs for the "Purgatory
" single cover, but deemed too good by Smallwood and withheld for the next studio release, the image, along with the record's title track
, led to the "moral majority" labelling Iron Maiden as Satanists and organising public burnings of their back-catalogue in the United States, which in turn gave them a large amount of publicity.
described Eddie in 2008 as "the most recognizable metal icon in the world and one of the most versatile too," while in 2009 Gigwise.com
called him "perhaps the most enduring band mascot of all time." Many artists who have been influenced by Iron Maiden hold their artwork in high regard, with Joey Jordison
of Slipknot
commenting that he bought his first album "on the strength of the cover alone" and Corey Taylor
, also of Slipknot, stating that "there wasn't a dude that I hung out with that wasn't trying to draw Eddie on their schoolbooks." Steve-O
, from Jackass
, says that they have "the coolest album covers in the music industry" and Lars Ulrich
, of Metallica
, comments that "they had the best packaging, the coolest T-shirts — everything." Mick Wall
describes Eddie as "the immortal soul of Iron Maiden, the defining symbol of the eternally youthful, blissfully uncompromising spirit of the band's music."
In 2008, Eddie won the "Icon Award" at the Metal Hammer
Golden Gods.
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
for the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
heavy metal band, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
. He is a perennial fixture of the group's artwork, appearing in all of their record covers (including most of their singles) and in their merchandise, which includes t-shirts, posters and action figures. On top of this, Eddie features in all of the band's concerts, as well as in the first-person shooter
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
video game, Ed Hunter
Ed Hunter
Ed Hunter, a rail shooter video game, was released in 1999, and is based on and accompanied by Iron Maiden's music. The game objective consists of rescuing the mascot of Iron Maiden, Eddie, from a prison while passing through game settings evocative of the albums...
, and as an unlockable character in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
-External links:* on the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine...
.
Background
The very first version of Eddie was a mask made by an art student who was friends with Dave (Lights) Beasley, then in charge of lighting, pyrotechnics and other effects for Iron Maiden's live-show. According to Lights, the original mask was a papier-mâchéPapier-mâché
Papier-mâché , alternatively, paper-mache, is a composite material consisting of paper pieces or pulp, sometimes reinforced with textiles, bound with an adhesive, such as glue, starch, or wallpaper paste....
mould of his own face, which was then used in the band's backdrop, consisting of LED lights and the band's logo. At the end of their live set, during the "Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden (song)
"Iron Maiden" is a song by Iron Maiden on their debut album Iron Maiden. It was written by Steve Harris, and recorded with Paul Di'Anno on vocals, Clive Burr on drums, and Dennis Stratton and Dave Murray on guitars...
" song, a fish-tank pump was used to squirt fake blood out of the mask's mouth, which typically covered their drummer, Doug Sampson
Doug Sampson
Douglas Gary Sampson was an early drummer for Iron Maiden and first to ever record with the band. He was in the band from 1977 to 1979....
. After this initial incarnation, Lights constructed a larger mask out of fibreglass, equipped with flashing eyes and the ability to release red smoke from its mouth.
According to guitarist, Dave Murray
Dave Murray (musician)
David Michael Murray is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as one of the earliest members of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden.-Biography:...
, the name, "Eddie The Head", was inspired by an old joke:
A wife had a baby, but it was born with only a head and no body. 'Don't worry,' says the doctor. 'Bring him back in five years time and we'll probably have a body for him'. So five years go by, and there's Eddie the 'Ead, as his parents have called him, sitting on the mantelpiece, when in walks his dad. 'Son,' he says, 'today's a very special day. It's your fifth birthday and we've got a very special surprise for you.' 'Oh no,' says Eddie. 'Not another fucking hat!
Once Iron Maiden had secured a record contract with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, the band's manager, Rod Smallwood
Rod Smallwood
Rod Smallwood, co-manager of the British band Iron Maiden and co-founder in 1976 of then Smallwood-Taylor Enterprises, today Sanctuary Group which is the world's largest music management company. The company was named after the Maiden song by the same name...
, decided that the band needed "that one figure who utterly stamped his presence and image on the band in a way that was obvious enough to make a good album cover." After seeing some of his artwork on a Max Middleton
Max Middleton
David Maxwell "Max" Middleton . He is an English composer and keyboardist and was originally a docker on the Liverpool docks. Middleton is known for his work on the Fender Rhodes Electric piano, the Minimoog synthesiser and his percussive playing style of the Hohner Clavinet...
poster, Smallwood set up a meeting with Derek Riggs
Derek Riggs
Derek Riggs is a contemporary British artist best known for creating the heavy metal music band Iron Maiden's mascot, "Eddie the Head".-Career:...
and asked to see some of his other illustrations, in the midst of which was the band's first album
Iron Maiden (album)
*On the 1998 remastered release, the fade out of "Transylvania" and the intro to "Strange World" were moved to the end of "Transylvania".-Personnel:*Paul Di'Anno – vocals*Dave Murray – guitar*Dennis Stratton – guitar, backing vocals...
cover. Originally created as an idea for a punk record, which Riggs states in the 12 Wasted Years
12 Wasted Years
12 Wasted Years is a video documentary of heavy metal band Iron Maiden, focusing on the history of the band from 1975-1987. It includes several rare videos and interviews from the band's career, most of which were later released on the 2005 DVD The Early Days.The video was originally released on...
documentary was based on an alleged American's skull stuck to a Vietnamese tank, the band had extra hair added to the illustration, making it more suitable to their style of music, and transferred the name from the original masks they used onstage. Surmising that the creature had "great visual continuity," Smallwood decided it would be used for all of the band's artwork.
Smallwood claims that Rupert Perry
Rupert Perry
Rupert Perry is a high-ranking member of the EMI Record Corporation. After joining EMI Music in 1971, he was given various promotions. 1976 earned him a title as Vice President of Artist and repertoire for Capitol Records in the US. 1982 landed him a position as President of EMI America...
, EMI's then managing director, came up with the idea that Eddie could become a more active part of the band's concerts, originally portrayed by Smallwood himself, wearing an Eddie mask and a leather jacket. The classic "walk-on" Eddie was created for The Beast on the Road
The Beast on the Road
The Beast on the Road was a tour by the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, made in support of their album, The Number of the Beast in 1982. It is one of Iron Maiden's longest tours to date, only to be surpassed by the World Slavery Tour in length....
tour by Dave Lights after seeing a pantomime version of Jack and the Beanstalk
Jack and the Beanstalk
Jack and the Beanstalk is a folktale said by English historian Francis Palgrave to be an oral legend that arrived in England with the Vikings. The tale is closely associated with the tale of Jack the Giant-killer. It is known under a number of versions...
, which used similar giants consisting of "basically a bloke on stilts but dressed up to look about ten feet tall." As the band's stage show expanded, an additional gigantic Eddie was also incorporated at the back of the set during "Iron Maiden", which, like the "walk-on" Eddie, would match the theme of the current tour, such as the 30-foot, mummified version used during the World Slavery Tour
World Slavery Tour
The World Slavery Tour was a concert tour by the heavy metal band Iron Maiden in support of their fifth album, Powerslave, beginning in Warsaw, Poland on 9 August 1984 and ending at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre in Irvine, California on 5 July 1985...
which shot sparks from its eyes.
Eddie's debut appearance was on the band's first single cover, "Running Free
Running Free
"Running Free" was the first single released by Iron Maiden, released on 8 February 1980 on the 7" 45 rpm vinyl record format. It was written by Steve Harris and Paul Di'Anno...
," in which his face was covered by shadow to protect his identity before the release of the band's first album. Since then, Eddie has assumed a different guise for each cover, such as a "mummified Egyptian god" for Powerslave
Powerslave
Powerslave is the fifth studio album by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 3 September 1984 on EMI in Europe and its sister label Capitol Records in the US ....
, a lobotomised mental patient for Piece of Mind
Piece of Mind
Piece of Mind is the fourth studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was originally released in 1983 on EMI, and on Capitol in the US; it was reissued later on Sanctuary/Columbia Records...
, emerging from a grave in Live After Death
Live After Death
Live After Death was well received by the music press, with Kerrang! describing it as "possibly the greatest live album of all time." Allmusic shared this sentiment, describing Live After Death as "easily one of heavy metal's best live albums."...
, and a cyborg for Somewhere in Time, some of which proved controversial, such as the cover of "Sanctuary
Sanctuary (Iron Maiden song)
"Sanctuary" is the second single released by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The single was released on 23 May 1980. The song was included in the US release of their debut album Iron Maiden but it was not included in the UK/European release...
," in which Eddie can be seen standing over the corpse of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. It was claimed that Iron Maiden were banned from releasing the single without censoring the cover, blacking out Thatcher's face, although Riggs has since claimed that this was fabricated by the band's management to gain publicity in the British tabloids.
The most amount of controversy, however, was reserved for the band's third album, The Number of the Beast
The Number of the Beast (album)
The Number of the Beast is the third studio album by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 29 March 1982 through EMI and on its sister label Capitol the US. The 1998 re-issue was released by EMI and Sanctuary/Columbia in the US...
, whose artwork depicted Eddie controlling Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
like a marionette. Originally created by Riggs for the "Purgatory
Purgatory (song)
"Purgatory" is Iron Maiden's fifth single and only single from the Killers album . This song is a remake of a very early Iron Maiden song originally called "Floating" which they used to play live during 1976 to 1977. According to current drummer Nicko McBrain, "Purgatory" is a faster re-arrangement...
" single cover, but deemed too good by Smallwood and withheld for the next studio release, the image, along with the record's title track
The Number of the Beast (song)
"The Number of the Beast" is Iron Maiden's seventh single and the second single from Iron Maiden's 1982 album of the same name. The song is inspired by both a nightmare bandleader and bassist Steve Harris had after watching the movie Damien: Omen II, and the storyline of the poem Tam o' Shanter...
, led to the "moral majority" labelling Iron Maiden as Satanists and organising public burnings of their back-catalogue in the United States, which in turn gave them a large amount of publicity.
Recognition
Gibson.comGibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
described Eddie in 2008 as "the most recognizable metal icon in the world and one of the most versatile too," while in 2009 Gigwise.com
Gigwise.com
Gigwise.com is an online music magazine that features music news, photos, album reviews, music festivals, concert tickets, and a community forum. Founded in 2001, the magazine is based in the United Kingdom....
called him "perhaps the most enduring band mascot of all time." Many artists who have been influenced by Iron Maiden hold their artwork in high regard, with Joey Jordison
Joey Jordison
Joey Jordison , is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work as the drummer for the nu metal band Slipknot. He grew up in Waukee, Iowa with his parents and two sisters, and was given his first drum kit at the age of 8...
of Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
commenting that he bought his first album "on the strength of the cover alone" and Corey Taylor
Corey Taylor
Corey Todd Taylor sometimes known by the number 8, is an American musician best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of Slipknot and Stone Sour. Taylor was raised by his single mother. He developed a fond feeling toward classic rock after his grandmother introduced him to it...
, also of Slipknot, stating that "there wasn't a dude that I hung out with that wasn't trying to draw Eddie on their schoolbooks." Steve-O
Steve-O
Steve-O is an American stunt performer and television personality. His entertainment career is mostly centered around his performance stunts on the American TV series Jackass and accompanying movies....
, from Jackass
Jackass (TV series)
jackass is an American reality series, originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, featuring people performing various dangerous, crude, ridiculous, self-injuring stunts and pranks...
, says that they have "the coolest album covers in the music industry" and Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich is a Danish drummer, and one of the founding members of the American thrash metal band Metallica. He was born in Gentofte, Denmark to an upper-middle class family. A tennis player in his youth, Ulrich moved to Los Angeles, California at age sixteen to pursue his training; though rather...
, of Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, comments that "they had the best packaging, the coolest T-shirts — everything." Mick Wall
Mick Wall
Mick Wall is a British music journalist, radio and TV presenter, and author.Wall began his career contributing to the music weekly Sounds in 1977, where he wrote on punk and the new wave, before graduating to rockabilly, funk, New Romantic pop and, eventually, hard rock and heavy metal...
describes Eddie as "the immortal soul of Iron Maiden, the defining symbol of the eternally youthful, blissfully uncompromising spirit of the band's music."
In 2008, Eddie won the "Icon Award" at the Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
Golden Gods.
Other Artists
From 1980 onwards, the band's Eddie artwork was provided exclusively by Derek Riggs until 1992, when the band decided to accept contributions from other artists, with Smallwood explaining that they "wanted to upgrade Eddie for the '90s. We wanted to take him from this sort of comic-book horror creature and turn him into something a bit more straightforward so that he became even more threatening." Since then, Riggs has contributed much less to the band's artwork, creating part of one studio album, one single and two compilation covers, while the band have employed a number of different artists:- Melvyn GrantMelvyn GrantMelvyn Grant , is a universal artist and illustrator. Trained traditionally he originally worked with oil paints, but now has switched to creating most of his work digitally...
first drew Eddie for the Fear of the Dark sleeve, the first time anyone other than Riggs had designed a cover for Iron Maiden in which Eddie was pictured. Grant also worked on the Virtual XIVirtual XIVirtual XI was met with mixed reviews from critics. Allmusic commented that "on the surface, there's nothing terribly wrong with the record, as it delivers all the crunching riffs and demonic horror of their best records. The problem is that there's nothing memorable about the hooks, riffs, or...
, Death on the RoadDeath on the RoadDeath on the Road is a live CD, LP, and DVD released by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden on 30 August 2005 and on 6 February 2006...
, "The Reincarnation of Benjamin BreegThe Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg"The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" is a song by Iron Maiden from their 14th studio album, A Matter of Life and Death. The song is the leading single from the album, released on 14 August 2006....
", The Final FrontierThe Final FrontierThe Final Frontier is a 1986 album by the heavy metal band Keel. It was the band's second album to be produced by KISS bassist Gene Simmons. Videos were filmed for the tracks "Because the Night" and "Tears of Fire."...
and From Fear to EternityFrom Fear to Eternity (album)From Fear to Eternity: The Best of 1990 - 2010 is a compilation album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, containing a selection of songs originally released on their last eight studio efforts to date...
covers.
- Mark WilkinsonMark WilkinsonMark Wilkinson is best known for his detailed cover art that he created for a number of British bands, most prominently the progressive rock band, Marillion...
depicted Eddie as a bat for the poster of their 1992 Monsters of RockMonsters of RockMonsters of Rock was an annual music festival held in England, then moved in other locations like The Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile.The Last show was in 2008....
appearance, which was later used for the cover of the Live at Donington remaster. Wilkinson has also contributed to "The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man (song)"The Wicker Man" is a song by Iron Maiden, released as the first single from their album Brave New World in April 2000. It was co-written by Adrian Smith, Bruce Dickinson and Steve Harris. It was co-produced by Kevin Shirley and Harris. The title is inspired by the British cult film of the same name...
" and "Out of the Silent PlanetOut of the Silent Planet (song)"Out of the Silent Planet" is a single from the Iron Maiden album Brave New World, released in 2000. The single features two live tracks from the 1999 Ed Hunter tour, which featured the band reunited with guitarist Adrian Smith and vocalist Bruce Dickinson, as well as the promotional video for "Out...
" singles, as well as the Best of the 'B' SidesBest of the 'B' SidesBest of the 'B' Sides is a compilation of B-sides by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 4 November 2002 as part of the Eddie's Archive box set. Each track was remastered and the set came with a running commentary from Rod Smallwood...
album.
- Hugh SymeHugh SymeHugh Syme is a Canadian Juno Award-winning graphic artist who is best known for his artwork and cover concepts for rock and metal bands. He is also a musician and has appeared in some Rush songs as a keyboard player. Syme is notably responsible for all of Rush's album cover art since 1975's Caress...
, noted for both his album cover work and guest musician appearances for the Canadian progressive rock band RushRush (band)Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, provided the artwork for The X FactorThe X Factor (album)Initially, The X Factor was met with lukewarm responses from critics. Allmusic rated the album two stars out of five, stating that "suffering from a lack of powerful riffs and tightly written songs, The X Factor is a lackluster latter-day album from Iron Maiden...
, the band's first digitally illustrated cover.
- Tom Adams provided the artwork to Edward the GreatEdward the GreatEdward the Great is Iron Maiden's third "best-of album", originally released on 5 November 2002.In 2005, a revised edition was released in Europe, Asia and South-America with an updated track-listing...
, showing Eddie as a King on a throne.
- Although not listed on the record's release, the From Fear to EternityFrom Fear to Eternity (album)From Fear to Eternity: The Best of 1990 - 2010 is a compilation album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, containing a selection of songs originally released on their last eight studio efforts to date...
album sleeve credits David Patchett with creating the Dance of DeathDance of Death (album)Dance of Death is the thirteenth studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released first in Japan on 2 September and then the rest of the world on 8 September 2003.-Background:...
cover. It has been alleged that the band accepted the artwork before it was completed and so Patchett insisted on having his name removed from the album's credits.
- Tim BradstreetTim BradstreetTimothy "Tim" Bradstreet , is an artist and illustrator, best known for his work on comic books , book covers, movie posters, roleplaying games and trading cards.-Career:...
, best known for his contributions to The Punisher comics, created the cover of A Matter of Life and DeathA Matter of Life and Death (album)A Matter of Life and Death is the fourteenth studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was released on 25 August 2006 in Italy and Finland, and 28 August worldwide, excluding the United States, Canada and Japan on 5 September 2006....
.
- Anthony Dry created the "El DoradoEl Dorado (song)"El Dorado" is the second track from British heavy metal band Iron Maiden's album The Final Frontier. The song is the band's thirty-sixth single, and the only one from the album. It was made available as a free download on the band's official site at 00:01 on 8 June 2010 , one day before the...
" and "The Final FrontierSatellite 15... The Final Frontier"Satellite 15... The Final Frontier" is the first track from British heavy metal band Iron Maiden's album The Final Frontier. A short teaser for the song's music video was released on 9 July 2010 and an announcement of the full video's release was made on 13 July.-Music video:The music video,...
" radio promo covers, featuring Melvyn Grant's The Final Frontier Eddie in a comic book cover style.
Various Incarnations
- Iron MaidenIron Maiden (album)*On the 1998 remastered release, the fade out of "Transylvania" and the intro to "Strange World" were moved to the end of "Transylvania".-Personnel:*Paul Di'Anno – vocals*Dave Murray – guitar*Dennis Stratton – guitar, backing vocals...
, the first artwork featuring Eddie, originally created for a possible punk record, based on an American's head allegedly stuck to a Vietnamese tank.- "Running FreeRunning Free"Running Free" was the first single released by Iron Maiden, released on 8 February 1980 on the 7" 45 rpm vinyl record format. It was written by Steve Harris and Paul Di'Anno...
", the band's first release to depict Eddie, painted after the album cover so his face was hidden to protect his identity. - "SanctuarySanctuary (Iron Maiden song)"Sanctuary" is the second single released by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The single was released on 23 May 1980. The song was included in the US release of their debut album Iron Maiden but it was not included in the UK/European release...
", showing Eddie above Margaret Thatcher's corpse, wielding a knife. According to Riggs, the band's management censored the image themselves to gain publicity. - "Women in UniformWomen in Uniform"Women in Uniform" is a 1978 song originally recorded by the Australian band Skyhooks; it was written by the band's bass player, Greg Macainsh. It appeared on their fourth album, Guilty Until Proven Insane, and was a top 10 single in Australia.[]...
", according to Riggs features Margaret Thatcher getting "her own back" on Eddie.
- "Running Free
- KillersKillers (Iron Maiden album)Killers is the second album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 2 February 1981 in the UK, and 6 June 1981 in the US. The album was their first with guitarist Adrian Smith and their last with vocalist Paul Di'Anno, who was sacked after problems with his stage performance arose due...
, featuring Eddie with an axe and his victim clawing at his shirt. Based on a block of flats in which Riggs lived at the time, it contains several references to the band, such as the "Ruskin Arms" and "Charlotte the Harlot".- "Twilight ZoneTwilight Zone (Iron Maiden song)"Twilight Zone" was the fourth single by Iron Maiden, released on 2 March 1981. The song was also released in the United States as part of the album Killers, but was not included in the British release until the album was re-released in 1998....
", features Eddie's spirit reaching towards a woman through a mirror. According to Rod Smallwood, Iron Maiden's manager, the band were criticised as Eddie appeared to be attacking the woman. - "PurgatoryPurgatory (song)"Purgatory" is Iron Maiden's fifth single and only single from the Killers album . This song is a remake of a very early Iron Maiden song originally called "Floating" which they used to play live during 1976 to 1977. According to current drummer Nicko McBrain, "Purgatory" is a faster re-arrangement...
", depicts the devil's face crumbling away to reveal Eddie.
- "Twilight Zone
- Maiden JapanMaiden JapanMaiden Japan, also known as Heavy Metal Army, is a live EP by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The title is a pun of Deep Purple's live album Made in Japan....
, shows Eddie with a Samurai sword. The cover was painted at short notice as the original, featuring Eddie decapitating Paul Di'AnnoPaul Di'AnnoPaul Andrews , better known as Paul Di'Anno, is an English singer best known as the first vocalist to record with the iconic heavy metal band Iron Maiden, from 1978 to 1981....
, was withdrawn as the band were considering replacing him. - The Number of the BeastThe Number of the Beast (album)The Number of the Beast is the third studio album by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 29 March 1982 through EMI and on its sister label Capitol the US. The 1998 re-issue was released by EMI and Sanctuary/Columbia in the US...
, depicts Eddie controlling the Devil like a puppet, who, in turn, also controls a puppet Eddie, causing controversy with American evangelists. Originally painted for the "Purgatory" song, Smallwood withheld the artwork for the following album, deeming it too good for a single.- "Run to the HillsRun to the Hills"Run to the Hills" was Iron Maiden's sixth single and the first single from their 1982 album The Number of the Beast. The lyrics clearly discuss the violence visited upon Native Americans in the Nineteenth Century. Several lines appear to address the Sioux Wars, a conflict between the Lakota...
", shows Eddie fighting Satan with a Native American tomahawkTomahawk (axe)A tomahawk is a type of axe native to North America, traditionally resembling a hatchet with a straight shaft. The name came into the English language in the 17th century as a transliteration of the Powhatan word.Tomahawks were general purpose tools used by Native Americans and European Colonials...
, a reference to the song itself. - "The Number of the BeastThe Number of the Beast (song)"The Number of the Beast" is Iron Maiden's seventh single and the second single from Iron Maiden's 1982 album of the same name. The song is inspired by both a nightmare bandleader and bassist Steve Harris had after watching the movie Damien: Omen II, and the storyline of the poem Tam o' Shanter...
", the single cover showing Eddie holding the devil's decapitated head, which Riggs claims was meant to look like Salvador DalíSalvador DalíSalvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
.
- "Run to the Hills
- Piece of MindPiece of MindPiece of Mind is the fourth studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was originally released in 1983 on EMI, and on Capitol in the US; it was reissued later on Sanctuary/Columbia Records...
, a lobotomised Eddie is chained to a padded cell.- "Flight of IcarusFlight of Icarus"Flight of Icarus" is a 1983 song by Iron Maiden. It is the band's eighth single and the first from the album, Piece of Mind. It was the first single by Iron Maiden that was released in the United States...
", shows Eddie torching IcarusIcarus-Space and astronomy:* Icarus , on the Moon* Icarus , a planetary science journal* 1566 Icarus, an asteroid* IKAROS, a interplanetary unmanned spacecraft...
, which Riggs states was meant to look like Led ZeppelinLed ZeppelinLed Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
's Swan SongSwan Song RecordsSwan Song Records was a record label launched by the English rock band Led Zeppelin on 10 May 1974. It was overseen by Led Zeppelin's manager Peter Grant and was a vehicle for the band to promote its own products as well as sign artists who found it difficult to win contracts with other major labels...
logo. The painting also contains a small box, meant to be Eddie's Piece of Mind padded cell. - "The TrooperThe Trooper"The Trooper" is a song written by Iron Maiden bass player Steve Harris. It is Iron Maiden's ninth single, and the second from their 1983 album Piece of Mind. The single was released on 20 June 1983...
", depicts Eddie in a red coat uniformRed coat (British army)Red coat or Redcoat is a historical term used to refer to soldiers of the British Army because of the red uniforms formerly worn by the majority of regiments. From the late 17th century to the early 20th century, the uniform of most British soldiers, , included a madder red coat or coatee...
, during the Charge of the Light BrigadeCharge of the Light BrigadeThe Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade attempted a much more difficult objective...
.
- "Flight of Icarus
- PowerslavePowerslavePowerslave is the fifth studio album by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 3 September 1984 on EMI in Europe and its sister label Capitol Records in the US ....
, featuring a statue of Eddie as an Egyptian Pharaoh/God.- "2 Minutes to Midnight2 Minutes to Midnight"2 Minutes to Midnight" is the second track from British heavy metal band Iron Maiden's fifth album Powerslave. It was released as the band's tenth single on 6 August 1984 and rose to number 11 in the UK Singles Chart and number 25 on Billboard Top Album Tracks.The song was written by Adrian Smith...
", showing Eddie sitting in front of an atomic explosion. - "Aces HighAces High (song)"Aces High" is a song by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, written by bassist Steve Harris. It is Iron Maiden's eleventh single and the second from the 1984 studio album Powerslave...
", depicts Eddie in a SpitfireSupermarine SpitfireThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
cockpit.
- "2 Minutes to Midnight
- Live After DeathLive After DeathLive After Death was well received by the music press, with Kerrang! describing it as "possibly the greatest live album of all time." Allmusic shared this sentiment, describing Live After Death as "easily one of heavy metal's best live albums."...
, shows Eddie rising from the grave.- "Run to the Hills (live)Run to the Hills"Run to the Hills" was Iron Maiden's sixth single and the first single from their 1982 album The Number of the Beast. The lyrics clearly discuss the violence visited upon Native Americans in the Nineteenth Century. Several lines appear to address the Sioux Wars, a conflict between the Lakota...
", contains live versions of "Run to the Hills" and "Phantom of the OperaPhantom of the Opera (song)"Phantom of the Opera" is a song from Iron Maiden's self-titled debut album. It was written by Steve Harris. It is the fourth track from the original US & UK album releases, and was the fifth track from the remastered 1998 release CD. It is based on the French novel The Phantom of the Opera by...
" and so featured Eddie as the phantom in a hilly landscape.
- "Run to the Hills (live)
- Somewhere in Time, Eddie appears as a cyborgCyborgA cyborg is a being with both biological and artificial parts. The term was coined in 1960 when Manfred Clynes and Nathan S. Kline used it in an article about the advantages of self-regulating human-machine systems in outer space. D. S...
in a Blade RunnerBlade RunnerBlade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is loosely based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K...
-inspired future. The cover is notable for containing dozens of Easter eggs relating to the band and pop culture references.- "Wasted YearsWasted Years"Wasted Years" is the fourteenth single released by Iron Maiden and the first from their Somewhere in Time album. It's the only song on the album that features no synthesizers. Released in 1986, it was the first single solely written by guitarist Adrian Smith, who also sings backing vocals...
", as the single came out before the album, the band did not want to reveal Eddie's new cyborg guise, so appears as a reflection in a time machine. - "Stranger in a Strange LandStranger in a Strange Land (song)"Stranger in a Strange Land" is the second single by Iron Maiden from their 1986 album Somewhere in Time. The song is unrelated to Robert A. Heinlein's novel by the same name. The lyrics are about an Arctic explorer who dies and is frozen in the ice. After a hundred years his body is found...
", depicts Eddie as Clint EastwoodClint EastwoodClinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
in a Star WarsStar WarsStar Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
-esque bar.
- "Wasted Years
- Seventh Son of a Seventh SonSeventh Son of a Seventh SonSeventh Son of a Seventh Son is the seventh studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released in 1988 by EMI in Europe and its sister label Capitol Records in the US...
, depicts a surreal Eddie with most of his body removed, which Riggs claims was because he was "sick of painting him" and this would mean there would not be as much of him to draw. Riggs also comments that he set it in a "polar landscape" after seeing a documentary on the North Pole, and that Eddie's head on fire was inspired by Arthur BrownArthur Brown (musician)Arthur Brown is an English rock and roll musician best known for his flamboyant, theatrical style and significant influence on Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel, Marilyn Manson, George Clinton, Kiss, King Diamond, and Bruce Dickinson, among others, and for his number one hit in the UK Singles Chart and...
.- "Can I Play with MadnessCan I Play with Madness"Can I Play with Madness" was the sixteenth single released by Iron Maiden. Released in 1988, it is the first single from the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son album and hit number 3 in the UK charts. The song is about a young man who wants to learn the future from an old prophet with a crystal ball...
", shows Eddie's brain being destroyed. - "The Evil That Men DoThe Evil That Men Do (song)"The Evil That Men Do" was released in 1988 by Iron Maiden. It is the band's seventeenth single and the second from their Seventh Son of a Seventh Son album. The single debuted at number six in the UK charts and quickly rose to number five...
", according to Riggs he drew the artwork in a single night. - "The ClairvoyantThe Clairvoyant (song)"The Clairvoyant" was released in 1988 by Iron Maiden. It is the band's nineteenth single and the third from their Seventh Son of a Seventh Son album. The single, which was also released as a clear vinyl, debuted at number six in the UK charts...
", depicts Eddie with three faces, indicating the ability to see the past, present and future. - "Infinite DreamsInfinite Dreams"Infinite Dreams" is a live single released in 1989 by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It is the only single to be released from a home video, 1988's Maiden England. The performance was recorded in Birmingham, England in November 1988 towards the end of the massive world tour to support...
"/ Maiden EnglandMaiden EnglandMaiden England is a live video by the band Iron Maiden during their Seventh Son of a Seventh Son world tour, which was dubbed 7th Tour of a 7th Tour....
, featuring Eddie riding a motorcycle.
- "Can I Play with Madness
- No Prayer for the DyingNo Prayer for the DyingReviews for the album were generally poor, with Allmusic commenting that "the songwriting wasn't up to snuff when compared to such classics as Killers or Number of the Beast" and "as a whole doesn't measure up to the hits." Sputnikmusic were equally negative, stating that "No Prayer for the Dying...
, shows Eddie bursting out of another grave. Unlike the band's previous artworks, in which he would retain the same features gained with each release (such as the Piece of Mind lobotomy), Eddie returned to how he was in the first few albums.- "Holy SmokeHoly Smoke (song)"Holy Smoke" is Iron Maiden's 21st single and the first to feature guitarist Janick Gers, who joined the band in mid-1990. It was released just weeks before the album, No Prayer for the Dying, and climbed to number three on the UK Singles Chart...
", depicting Eddie destroying a group of televisions broadcasting TV evangelists, who the song itself attacks. - "Bring Your Daughter... to the SlaughterBring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter"Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" is the second single from No Prayer for the Dying, Iron Maiden's first full-length album in over two years...
", featured several different covers, such as one in which Eddie is stood outside "The Paradise ClubThe Paradise ClubThe Paradise Club is a BBC television drama starring Don Henderson and Leslie Grantham as Frank & Danny Kane. Two series were produced and were broadcast between 1989 and 1990....
" (a British TV series which Bruce Dickinson featured in) with Jessica Rabbit, and one in which Eddie appears as the Grim Reaper in a graveyard.
- "Holy Smoke
- Fear of the Dark, the first cover not created by Derek Riggs, features Melvyn Grant's design of Eddie as a tree monster.
- "Be Quick or Be DeadBe Quick or Be Dead"Be Quick or Be Dead" is the first single from the Iron Maiden album Fear of the Dark, released in 1992. The song is about several political scandals taking place at the time of its release, including the Robert Maxwell banking scandal, European stock market crashes, and the BCCI case...
", shows Eddie attacking Robert MaxwellRobert MaxwellIan Robert Maxwell MC was a Czechoslovakian-born British media proprietor and former Member of Parliament , who rose from poverty to build an extensive publishing empire...
. According to Riggs, Eddie was drawn directly onto a photo of Maxwell.
- "Be Quick or Be Dead
- A Real Live OneA Real Live OneA Real Live One is a live album by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released in March 1993. The album tracks were recorded at 9 different venues in Europe on the Fear of the Dark World Tour...
, depicts Eddie biting through an electrical cord.- "Fear of the Dark (live)Fear of the Dark (song)"Fear of the Dark" is a song written by Steve Harris, bass player and main songwriter for Iron Maiden, as the title track to Iron Maiden's 1992 album Fear of the Dark...
", according to Riggs shows Eddie as Steve HarrisSteve Harris (musician)Stephen Percy "Steve" Harris is an English musician and songwriter, known as the bassist, occasional keyboardist, backing vocalist and primary songwriter of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, which he founded in 1975...
. The artwork was also used for the Raising HellRaising Hell (video)Raising Hell is a concert video by the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, filmed on 28 August 1993 at the Pinewood Studios in London, England and broadcast live on pay-per-view television in North America. It was later bought by the BBC for broadcast in the UK as an edited version. The video is...
video.
- "Fear of the Dark (live)
- A Real Dead OneA Real Dead OneA Real Dead One is a live album by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, recorded in 1992/93 at concerts across Europe, and released on 25 October 1993...
, features Eddie as a radio DJ.- "Hallowed Be Thy Name (live)Hallowed Be Thy Name"Hallowed Be Thy Name" is a song written by Steve Harris for the 1982 Iron Maiden album The Number of The Beast.The song includes 2 guitar solos: the first is played by Dave Murray,and second was played by Adrian Smith from 1982 until 1988.From 1990, second solo is played by Janick Gers...
", as lead vocalist Bruce DickinsonBruce DickinsonPaul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
was leaving, the artwork depicts him being killed by Eddie, who appears as the devil.
- "Hallowed Be Thy Name (live)
- Live at Donington, re-release depicts Eddie as a bat, originally created by Mark Wilkinson for the Monsters of Rock 1992 poster.
- The X FactorThe X Factor (album)Initially, The X Factor was met with lukewarm responses from critics. Allmusic rated the album two stars out of five, stating that "suffering from a lack of powerful riffs and tightly written songs, The X Factor is a lackluster latter-day album from Iron Maiden...
, created by Hugh SymeHugh SymeHugh Syme is a Canadian Juno Award-winning graphic artist who is best known for his artwork and cover concepts for rock and metal bands. He is also a musician and has appeared in some Rush songs as a keyboard player. Syme is notably responsible for all of Rush's album cover art since 1975's Caress...
, shows Eddie on an operating table with most of his insides showing. Due to the cover's graphic nature, the band had to provide a less-violent alternative consisting of a similar Eddie from a distance.- "Man on the EdgeMan on the Edge"Man on the Edge" is a single from the Iron Maiden album The X Factor. It was released in 1995. The song is based on the film Falling Down, starring Michael Douglas...
" - "Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies (song)"Lord of the Flies" is an Iron Maiden single and second track on their 1995 album The X Factor. The song is based on the book and film of the same name.The single was only released outside of the UK...
"
- "Man on the Edge
- Best of the BeastBest of the BeastBest of the Beast was Iron Maiden's first "best of" album, released in 1996 in three formats: a 34 track vinyl, a 27 track CD, a 16 track CD and MiniDisc .-Background:...
, features a selection of Riggs' past Eddies.- "Virus", two covers one of which was created by Derek Riggs.
- Virtual XIVirtual XIVirtual XI was met with mixed reviews from critics. Allmusic commented that "on the surface, there's nothing terribly wrong with the record, as it delivers all the crunching riffs and demonic horror of their best records. The problem is that there's nothing memorable about the hooks, riffs, or...
, Eddie reaches towards a child wearing a virtual reality headset, created by Melvyn Grant.- "The Angel and the GamblerThe Angel and the Gambler"The Angel and the Gambler" is a single from the Iron Maiden album Virtual XI, released in 1998. It was released two weeks before Virtual XI hit stores. It is the first Iron Maiden single to feature a video as a B-side...
", Eddie with wings standing outside a floating casino, created by Derek Riggs. - "FuturealFutureal"Futureal" is a single from the Iron Maiden album Virtual XI, released in 1998. Just months after this single was released, vocalist Blaze Bayley would part ways with Iron Maiden. The song was voted as one of the most popular Iron Maiden songs of all time in a fan poll taken during the making of...
", Eddie appears as a head with his brain exposed.
- "The Angel and the Gambler
- Ed HunterEd HunterEd Hunter, a rail shooter video game, was released in 1999, and is based on and accompanied by Iron Maiden's music. The game objective consists of rescuing the mascot of Iron Maiden, Eddie, from a prison while passing through game settings evocative of the albums...
, featuring the version of Eddie used in the game. - Brave New World, this Eddie originally appeared in a cloud of smoke coming from a burning "Wicker Man" Eddie, a piece of artwork created by Derek Riggs, but was removed and placed into the album art.
- "The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man (song)"The Wicker Man" is a song by Iron Maiden, released as the first single from their album Brave New World in April 2000. It was co-written by Adrian Smith, Bruce Dickinson and Steve Harris. It was co-produced by Kevin Shirley and Harris. The title is inspired by the British cult film of the same name...
", Eddie appears as a Wicker Man, created by Mark Wilkinson. - "Out of the Silent PlanetOut of the Silent Planet (song)"Out of the Silent Planet" is a single from the Iron Maiden album Brave New World, released in 2000. The single features two live tracks from the 1999 Ed Hunter tour, which featured the band reunited with guitarist Adrian Smith and vocalist Bruce Dickinson, as well as the promotional video for "Out...
", features Eddie at a press conference, also designed by Wilkinson. An alternate cover uses the same Eddie from the Brave New World cover.
- "The Wicker Man
- Rock in RioRock in Rio (album)Rock In Rio is a live album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, recorded at Rock in Rio, Brazil in 2001 on the last night of the Brave New World Tour...
- BBC Archives, created by Derek Riggs for BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, the artwork originally depicted Eddie destroying Capitol RecordsCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
(with whom they had just signed), but the building was changed for the album cover. - Beast over HammersmithBeast Over HammersmithBeast over Hammersmith is a live album by the British Heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 4 November 2002. Recorded 20 years previously, during The Beast On The Road tour at the Hammersmith Odeon, the footage was specially co-produced and mixed by Steve Harris and Doug Hall to be a part of...
, shows Eddie planting a British flag in the earth, adapted from The Beast on the RoadThe Beast on the RoadThe Beast on the Road was a tour by the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, made in support of their album, The Number of the Beast in 1982. It is one of Iron Maiden's longest tours to date, only to be surpassed by the World Slavery Tour in length....
tour programme from 1982, drawn by Derek Riggs. - Best of the 'B' SidesBest of the 'B' SidesBest of the 'B' Sides is a compilation of B-sides by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 4 November 2002 as part of the Eddie's Archive box set. Each track was remastered and the set came with a running commentary from Rod Smallwood...
, depicts Eddie mooning from behind the wheel of a truck, illustrated by Mark Wilkinson. Wilkinson also designed the Eddie's ArchiveEddie's ArchiveEddie's Archive is a box set by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 16 November 2002. The box, an embossed metal casket featuring the face of mascot Eddie, contains three double CDs, the Iron Maiden family tree and a shot glass...
embossed metal case. - Edward the GreatEdward the GreatEdward the Great is Iron Maiden's third "best-of album", originally released on 5 November 2002.In 2005, a revised edition was released in Europe, Asia and South-America with an updated track-listing...
, showing Eddie on a throne, was created by Tom Adams. - Dance of DeathDance of Death (album)Dance of Death is the thirteenth studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released first in Japan on 2 September and then the rest of the world on 8 September 2003.-Background:...
, features Eddie as the Grim Reaper, created by David Patchett.- "Wildest DreamsWildest Dreams (song)"Wildest Dreams" is a single from Iron Maiden's 13th studio album, Dance of Death, released in 2003.The band began performing the song in concert before the album was released. The single also includes an improvisational jam from the Dance of Death sessions...
", shot of Eddie in a top hat from the "Wildest Dreams" music video. - "RainmakerRainmaker (song)"Rainmaker" is the 37th single released by Iron Maiden. It is the second single from their 13th studio album Dance of Death. The song was largely written by long-time guitarist Dave Murray. The lyrics were inspired by vocalist Bruce Dickinson's comment that the intro riff made him think of raindrops...
", cover also taken from its music video.
- "Wildest Dreams
- Death on the RoadDeath on the RoadDeath on the Road is a live CD, LP, and DVD released by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden on 30 August 2005 and on 6 February 2006...
, features Eddie as an undertaker, designed by Melvyn Grant. - A Matter of Life and DeathA Matter of Life and Death (album)A Matter of Life and Death is the fourteenth studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was released on 25 August 2006 in Italy and Finland, and 28 August worldwide, excluding the United States, Canada and Japan on 5 September 2006....
, shows Eddie riding a tank, created by Tim Bradstreet.- "The Reincarnation of Benjamin BreegThe Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg"The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" is a song by Iron Maiden from their 14th studio album, A Matter of Life and Death. The song is the leading single from the album, released on 14 August 2006....
", depicts Eddie destroying the grave of Benjamin Breeg, created by Melvyn Grant. - "Different WorldDifferent World (song)"Different World" is the first track from English heavy metal band Iron Maiden's 2006 album A Matter of Life and Death. The song is the band's thirty-fifth single, and is also the second single from the album, released on 14 November 2006 in the United States, and 26 December 2006 in Europe...
", cover is a still from the song's music video.
- "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg
- Somewhere Back in Time, shows the cyborg Eddie (from Somewhere in Time) erupting from the Powerslave statue.
- The Final FrontierThe Final FrontierThe Final Frontier is a 1986 album by the heavy metal band Keel. It was the band's second album to be produced by KISS bassist Gene Simmons. Videos were filmed for the tracks "Because the Night" and "Tears of Fire."...
, shows Eddie as an ExtraterrestrialExtraterrestrial lifeExtraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
retrieving a key from a space ship. The artwork caused controversy as it was vastly different from the band's past covers, leading to many fans claiming that it was not Eddie. Melvyn Grant himself has since stated that the new monster "is not Eddie," although the band members state that it is.- The "El DoradoEl Dorado (song)"El Dorado" is the second track from British heavy metal band Iron Maiden's album The Final Frontier. The song is the band's thirty-sixth single, and the only one from the album. It was made available as a free download on the band's official site at 00:01 on 8 June 2010 , one day before the...
" and "The Final FrontierSatellite 15... The Final Frontier"Satellite 15... The Final Frontier" is the first track from British heavy metal band Iron Maiden's album The Final Frontier. A short teaser for the song's music video was released on 9 July 2010 and an announcement of the full video's release was made on 13 July.-Music video:The music video,...
" radio promo covers, featuring Grant's new Eddie in a comic book sleeve, were created by Anthony Dry.
- The "El Dorado
- From Fear to EternityFrom Fear to Eternity (album)From Fear to Eternity: The Best of 1990 - 2010 is a compilation album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, containing a selection of songs originally released on their last eight studio efforts to date...
, created by Melvyn Grant, shows three different incarnations: the Wicker Man Eddie from the "Wicker Man" single, the tank-riding Eddie from the A Matter of Life and Death album cover and a cross between the Dance of Death, Fear of the Dark and The Final Frontier Eddies.