Official Iron Maiden artwork and fan drawn Eddies (no AI images please)

[Kalata]

The crazy thing about the book is that Derek wasn't personally involved at that time... About the giant artwork you mention, Derek did work on that but for one reason or the other the management scrapped the idea and that's why we ended up with the bad collage of Eddies in the inside of the booklet of the Best Of The Beast. As the sleeve, the original idea was that Derek would paint a whole series (at least 3) new artwork with various Eddies.

Hi @Luisma, I quoted you hear because this is the appropriate thread. Thanks for sharing this curious info.

Derek wasn't involved, wow. Why was that idea scrapped? The collage inside the booklet is indeed bad. They had bigger and interesting plans for this compilation.

Regarding the giant artwork with all Eddies for BOTB booklet, it would have been so cool and special for this release. Missed opportunity, bad decision. Maybe it was too much work for Derek?...

So at least 3 new artworks with (old?) Eddies in 1996 for the compilation? Series! Wow. Kind of like a comic. I never knew that or would have guessed. That would have been so cool, even atypical for such a release. Do you happen to know the ideas for them, the Eddies?

 

[Kalata]

I really think Maiden should’ve definitely used the Jester archetype on their album covers.

Azas, that got me thinking^. Eddie as a jester for the DOD cover? Probably kind of fitting, but idk, I think Maiden want something more serious and darker. And Bruce's solo album has a jester, so. Maybe for a single cover, but which one.

Btw, you are making great Maiden arts with AI.

 

[Azas]

Azas, that got me thinking^. Eddie as a jester for the DOD cover? Idk, I think Maiden want something more serious and darker. And Bruce's solo album has a jester, so. Maybe for a single cover, but which one.

Btw, you are making great Maiden arts with AI.

Not necessarily on the Dance of Death cover, but the jester as an archetype is a very powerful one. The jester is allowed to mock even kings, to speak truths others can’t. Personally, I’ve always thought Eddie as a jester should have appeared on at least one Iron Maiden cover.

Take No Prayer for the Dying, for example — imagine a prancing, laughing jester in the foreground, while in the background, a king lies on his deathbed or slumps on a crumbling throne. That image would’ve fit perfectly.

In my opinion, the jester would also suit Dance of Death. Picture it: a grinning jester front and center, with the Grim Reaper looming in the background. The jester as a symbol — of how we humans dance and laugh, live our lives full of jokes and madness, right up until the moment the Reaper has had enough of our shenanigans... and takes us out.