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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
3ALBUM ART ANALYSIS AND ARTWORK DELIVERABLES
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,
5ALBUM ART ANALYSIS AND ARTWORK DELIVERABLES
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).
6ALBUM ART ANALYSIS AND ARTWORK DELIVERABLES
7ALBUM ART ANALYSIS AND ARTWORK DELIVERABLES
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
8ALBUM ART ANALYSIS AND ARTWORK DELIVERABLES
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
9ALBUM ART ANALYSIS AND ARTWORK DELIVERABLES
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