IRON MAIDEN: The Origin Of EDDIE

December 12, 2006

The image that was supposedly the one that inspired artist Derek Riggs to draw IRON MAIDEN's mascot Eddie has been posted online at the MAIDEN fan site MaidenNorway.com. The image in question purportedly represents either a Vietnamese head on an American tank, or an American head on a Vietnamese tank. Riggs talked about this photo in the MAIDEN documentary "12 Wasted Years", explaining that he believed it was an attempt by the American government to gain sympathy through propaganda.

Eddie, whose full name is Eddie the Head or Edward the Head (also known as Edward the Great),is a perennial fixture in the often-violent MAIDEN album cover art, as well as ever present in the group's live shows. Eddie also featured in a first-person shooter video game Ed Hunter. He is also featured as an unlockable character in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.

Riggs recently published a book of his artwork, entitled "Run for Cover: The Art of Derek Riggs". It is presented as a 180-page, full-color, large-format, top-quality art book, sporting approximately 200 graphics, some unpublished, some unfinished, many pristine originals from the IRON MAIDEN vaults, thanks to the full cooperation of MAIDEN manager Rod Smallwood and his charges. In addition, Riggs has painted a stunning new Eddie to grace the cover. The book is offered in two formats: 1) trade paperback; and 2) hard cover, signed by Derek Riggs, individually numbered, limited to 1,500 copies.

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