1ALBUM ART ANALYSIS AND ARTWORK DELIVERABLES

Album Art Analysis and Artwork Deliverables

Morgan Happs

Full Sail University

2ALBUM ART ANALYSIS AND ARTWORK DELIVERABLES

(Iron Maiden, 1981)

The cover art for Iron Maidens album, “Killers,” was created by contemporary British

artist, Derek Riggs, in 1981. At first glance, the album art just looks like a desiccated corpse with

frayed hair in a dystopia with strange neon lit window shades. At a closer look, the viewer can

see the word “Killers” is written using the color red, and is portrayed in a font that could be

recognized as looking like dripping, wet paint. After looking over the rest of the artwork, Eddie,

Iron Maiden’s mascot, is seen standing over a body that is tugging at his shirt in a desperate

manner, and holding a bloody ax, hinting at the possibility of the word “Killers” being written in

Eddie’s victim’s blood. “Eddie has an ax because he’s an ‘axman’ – it’s a pun on the term for a

rock and roll guitarist,” Derek Riggs says (Bennett, 2010). The most distinctive color featured in

this artwork is the sickly, unpleasant, sulfuric yellow that highlights Eddie. Behind Eddie, there

are tightly closed red curtains, where it is rumored Charlotte the Harlot, another Iron Maiden

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character, could possibly be staying, awaiting her next customer. Finally, in the bottom right

corner, there is Derek Riggs signature alongside a silhouette of a black cat, which are some

reoccurring details that can be found in multiple works of art for Iron Maiden.

The “Killers” album cover is arguably the most famous of all the Eddies. According to

many fans, it’s the best cover because Eddie “looks really primal and at the same time advanced

to the smallest detail (The Artwork for Killers Album, n.d.).” Aside from the main aspect of the

art being Iron Maiden’s mascot, other key features Derek Riggs included is the Ruskin Arms

pub, where the band first “cut their teeth.” The overall scenery is based on the flat block Derek

Riggs lived in at the time, Etchingham Court on Etchington Park Road in Finchley North London

N4 (Riddell, 2015). With themes of murder, from Eddie and his ax; sex, from the sex shop in the

bottom left corner; and alcohol, from the Ruskin Arms pub, this album art gets down and dirty

and accurately portrays the image of Iron Maiden.

4ALBUM ART ANALYSIS AND ARTWORK DELIVERABLES

(Queen, 1977)

The cover art for the album “News of the World” by Queen, released on October 28th,

1977, was designed by artist Frank Kelly Freas, who had previously worked for MAD Magazine

and numerous science-fiction publications. The original image was the cover for the October

1953 issue of Astounding Science Fiction, where the oversized robot is holding a dead body,

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with the caption “Please… fix it, Daddy?” The image was also used inside the magazine as the

artwork for the article “The Gulf Between” by Tom Godwin. Frank Kelly Freas once stated that

the image was meant to “depict the gulf between the mechanical man and human people (Queen,

1977).” Brain May has said “what attracted us to this drawing was that the robot was not a

monster. He’s a likeable machine who is baffled. He holds these bloody, injured people in his

palm, and he doesn’t know what to do with them (Queen, 1977).” Brain May took it upon

himself to name the robot on their album cover, Frank.

The robot, Frank, on the cover of the “News of the World” album has an obviously

mournful look upon its face while it’s holding the bodies of what appears to be the band

members, who all seem to be dead or injured. Many believe the image is reminiscent of the lyrics

from the fourth track of the album, “All Dead, All Dead,” but Brain May stated in an appearance

on “In the Studio with Redbeard” that the song was actually inspired by the death of his cat

(Epstein, 2017). “Understandably, the cover art on the 1977 album divided fans. Many loved it,

but others found the artwork to be morbid and terrifying (Ellis, 2014).

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State Champs are a pop/punk band from Albany, NY, that formed in 2010 and are

currently signed to Pure Noise Records. This product will be composed of acoustic renditions of

songs that appeared in more anthemic, electrified versions on their third full album, “Living

Proof.” They are known for their relatable lyrics and being generally responsible for ushering in

a new wave of pop/punk, one that is as clever as it is inventive. It feels familiar, but not

derivative. It feels as if you’re standing on the edge of the ocean, with no one else around;

familiar, comfortable, home. Just as this is reflected in the imagery selected for the front cover of

the album.

Two of the most popular songs off the album are “Our Time to Go” and “Time

Machine,” both songs are already pretty calm as far as pop/punk is concerned, but they are

definitely State Champs boldest songs, as well as they are the fan favorites. They’ve stated

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multiple times how they felt a little out of their element, but in a good way, when writing those

songs. The colors chosen for this cover are both bold and calm. They suit State Champs in a way

that depicts the band in a likeable way to fans, by representing the traits of their favorite songs.

These same traits, bold and calm, could also be used to describe State Champs’ personality as a

whole. When looking at the stereotypical rebellious personality associated with the pop/punk

genre, State Champs are pretty calm, in the sense of they have absolutely zero scandals. But their

music is bold enough to make them stand out amongst their peers. They have a bold, yet calm,

personality. They have the kind of personality that sells in this recycled ear of pop/punk.

References

The artworks for Killers album - 1981. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://rocklivebg.com/maiden/en/killers-articles/the-artworks-for-killers-album-1981.php

Bennett, J. (201, December 1). Iron Maiden's 'Killers': The Story Behind the Cover Art.

Retrieved from https://www.revolvermag.com/culture/iron-maidens-killers-story-

behind-cover-art

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Ellis, A. (2014, February 17). Queen - News of the world - The cover cove - Quora. Retrieved

from https://thecovercove.quora.com/Queen-News-of-the-World

Epstein, D. (2017, 28). Queen's 'News of the World': 10 things you didn't know. Retrieved from

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/queens-news-of-the-world-10-

things-you-didnt-know-195704/

Iron Maiden, 1981 Killers, EMI Records. Retrieved from https://genius.com/10029238

Kelly, K. (2008, April 15). Oops, a robot accidentally killed Queen. Retrieved from

https://io9.gizmodo.com/379653/oops-a-robot-accidentally-killed-queen

Queen, 1977 News of the World, EMI Records. Retrieved from https://genius.com/12278689

Riddell, A. (2015, March 20). The Top Ten Iron Maiden Album Sleeves – As Voted For By

You! Retrieved from https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-top-ten-iron-maiden-

album-sleeves-as-voted-for-by-you

Wall, M. (2017, July 13). News of the world: How Queen rose from the ashes. Retrieved from

https://www.loudersound.com/features/news-of-the-world-how-queen-rose-from-the-

ashes