Blog Entry #2: “Sanctuary”: Eddie the Head’s First Appearance with Iron Maiden

The single album, “Sanctuary,” was released by Iron Maiden on the 23^rd of March in 1980. Sanctuary was one of the band’s earliest hits and was featured on Iron Maiden’s first album, the self-titled “Iron Maiden,” the following month. The release of this single album not only introduced a new song by this up-and-coming band but also introduced a new member to the band who has been with them ever since: Eddie the Head.

The album artwork for “Sanctuary” was the first ever representation of the band’s now famous mascot, Eddie. Eddie was created by Derek Riggs as a representation of the ultimate headbanger. He usually appears in the form of a murderous, corpse-like figure. Iron Maiden came across Derek Riggs’ work and commissioned him to create the cover for “Sanctuary” in 1980 (Waksman 196-7). His creation became recognized as controversial due to the grave image it portrayed. The album portrays Eddie the Head with a blood-soaked knife standing crouched in battle stance over the dead body of a woman, caught in the act of tearing down a poster advertising a live show by the band, Iron Maiden (Waksman 195). The woman was none other than Margaret Thatcher, the Prime Minister of Britain at the time. With the opening line of the title track, “I’ve never killed a woman before, but I know how it feels,” in mind, Riggs originally drew Eddie’s victim as another woman, but Iron Maiden wanted it to be changed to the image of Margaret Thatcher as a play on her nickname, the “iron maiden.” This sparked quite a controversy and early copies were distributed with a black box over the eyes of Margaret Thatcher due to the offensive nature of the graphic. Thus was the introduction of Eddie, the psychopathic, murderous, corpse-like, mascot of Iron Maiden.

Since Eddie’s first appearance on “Sanctuary,” Eddie has become a huge player in Iron Maiden. Eddie has appeared on every Iron Maiden album released since this single album in some shape or form, each more terrifying than the last. Eddie’s most recent appearance was as a battle-wounded alien in Iron Maiden’s newest album, “The Final Frontier.” Near the end of every live show, Iron Maiden rallies their audience to summon up Eddie, and Eddie takes to the stage to cause chaos and rock out with the band and audience.