THIS PAGE IS DEDICATE TO EDDIE MAIDEN.THE BEST MASCOT OF ONE BEST METAL BAND EVER EXIST (IRON MAIDEN).EDDIE FIRST APPEARED WITH THE BAND AFTER THEIR STAGE MANAGER AT THE TIME (DAVE BEASLY)DESIGNED A HEAD THAT WAS PLACED ABOVE THE DRUMMER AT CONCERTS AND PERIODICALLY SPAT BLOOD THROUGH ITS MOUTH.EDDIE DID NOT HAVE A BODY UNTIL IRON MAIDEN MET DEREK RIGGS WHO DESIGNED A BODY TO ACOMPANY THE HEAD.EDDIE HAS ENVOLVED GREATLY OVER 25 + YEARS OF IRON MAIDEN CAREER AND HE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY EVOLVE AND CHANGE WITH THE BAND,BEFORE THEIR REIGN AT THE TOP OF METAL MUSIC IS OVER...
EDDIE HISTORY
This head on stage was given a name – Eddie. Until Derek Riggs met the band, Eddie was just a head on stage. Riggs designed a body and the full Eddie character was seen.Eddie appearance was kept secret until the release of their self titled first album. It is for this reason why Eddie is standing in the shadows on the 'Running Free' single cover. Eddie's face was seen, as promised, on the first album cover and has been used on every one since.It did not take long before the controversy started. Eddie was pictured stabbing Maggie Thatcher to death on the 'Sanctuary' sleeve due to when she pulled an Iron Maiden poster off a wall. Later editions of the cover were censored (a black bar was put across her eyes) for the UK but European releases were left uncensored.A handful of feminists started the second controversy when they accused Iron Maiden of being sexist. This was due to the 'Women In Uniform' sleeve where Eddie is seen with a nurse on one arm and a school girl on the other. This was only minor and no one took it seriously.You may recall the incident when Ozzy Ozbourne bit off a bat's head on stage. Well, this caused more controversy for Eddie as he was drawn biting Ozzy's head off. The Ozzy team did not see the funny side and the drawing was withdrawn.Eddie has changed a lot since the first album cover. When 'Somewhere In Time' was released Eddie looked a lot different – like a sort of Terminator. Again Eddie changed for 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son' - as only his upper body remained.For the sleeve of 'Fear Of The Dark' Eddie was drawn by a different artist, Melvyn Grant, which looked more serious than the first cartoon type drawings of Derek Riggs.The 'Live At Donnington' artwork followed the theme of the 'Fear Of The Dark' cover with Eddie as a monster.The 'X Factor' cover is different to any seen before and in my opinion not for the better. Thing did improve though for 'The Best Of The Beast' cover, which was designed by Derek Riggs and features many pictures of the Eddie seen on album covers over the years. The 'Virtual XI' cover was drawn by Melvyn Grant and looks very strange compared to the original Eddies.'Brave New World' features some spectacular artwork from Derek Riggs and Steve Stone. The futuristic London scene and the face of Eddie in the sky make it one of the most detailed covers to date. The 'Rock In Rio' cover is also truly amazing which also features Eddie's face in the sky as well as the stage set and the crowd. UNTIL THE DAY COMES WHEN/IF METAL DIES, (WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN.) EDDIE WILL CONTINUE TO RAISE HIS ARMY OF EVIL, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT ANY MAN/BEING ON THIS EARTH CAN DO ABOUT THAT.Back Top
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