IRON MAIDEN Artist Hopes To Honor DEREK RIGGS With New Album Cover

Acclaimed artist Timothy Bradstreet, who was responsible for the artwork for the new IRON MAIDEN album, "A Matter of Life and Death", has posted the following message on his official blog:

"If you'd have told me back in 1985 that I'd one day be doing an album cover for IRON MAIDEN, I'd have told you to 'Get the **** out of my face.' You see, not only am I one of the MAIDEN faithful from WAY back, I'm a card-carrying member of Ed Hunter F'n fanclub.

"A few months back I recieved one of those emails I had to read two or three times. IRON MAIDEN came calling to see if I wanted to take a crack at their forthcoming album cover. Are you kidding? I spent the better part of my four high school years drawing Eddie in every available corner of my school notebooks to the everlasting chagrin of my instructors. It's like music to my ears to recollect the words of my teachers at the time. I think it went something like this: 'Do you honestly think these silly drawings will ever get you a job in the real world? Why don't you just concentrate on your schoolwork and stop wasting your time?'

"Hmmm, well I think most of them realized they could take a big kiss-off some time ago when I made a career of creating those 'silly drawings' on a monthly basis for The Punisher and John Constantine: Hellblazer. Now it really comes full circle as one of my wildest dreams has found itself fully realized.

"Coming in early September is MAIDEN's 13th studio album, 'A Matter of Life and Death' with artwork by that silly kid from 10th grade. It's truly a wonderful thing for me to be a part of. I want to send a special shout out to Mr. Derek Riggs whose paintings for MAIDEN inspired legions of fans over the last 26 years. Hard to believe it's been that long. Derek will always be the man. I hope I do him honor with my effort."

"A Matter of Life and Death" is scheduled for release in early September via EMI. The album's first single, "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg", will precede the album on August 14.

"A Matter of Life and Death" was recorded at Sarm West Studios in London with producer Kevin Shirley, who also worked on the last two MAIDEN albums, 2000's "Brave New World" and 2003's "Dance of Death".

The complete track listing for both the single and the album is as follows:

Limited-Edition Two-Track CD:

01. The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg
02. Hallowed be thy Name (Radio 1 "Legends" Session)

Limited-Edition 7" Picture Disc (To Include "Crossed Gun Logo" Sticker):

01. The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg
02. Run to the Hills (Radio 1 "Legends" Session)
03. The Trooper (Radio 1 "Legends" Session)

"A Matter of Life and Death" track listing:

01. Different Worlds (Smith/Harris) (4:17)
02. These Colours Don't Run (Smith/Harris/Dickinson) (6:52)
03. Brighter Than a Thousand Suns (Smith/Harris/Dickinson) (8:44)
04. The Pilgrim (Gers/Harris) (5:07)
05. The Longest Day (Smith/Harris/Dickinson) (7:48)
06. Out Of the Shadows (Dickinson/Harris) (5:36)
07. The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg (Murray/Harris) (7:21)
08. For The Greater Good of God (Harris) (9:24)
09. Lord Of Light (Smith/Harris/Dickinson) (7:23)
10. The Legacy (Gers/Harris) (9:20)