Hugh Syme

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Hugh Syme does artwork and cover concepts for rock and metal bands. He is also a musician and has appeared in some Rush songs as a keyboard player.

Iron Maiden fans remember him best as the designer of The X Factor cover which shows the band's mascot Eddie the Head dissected. It is remembered for its gritty realism. Where as all previous Maiden albums were oil-paintings The X Factor Eddie was a puppet with some digital touch-ups to enhance its creepy look. In some countries the cover was considered so gruesome that a less gory alternative was offered (the alternative cover is actually the back of the original CD-booklet). Other bands he's done artwork for were Megadeth, Nevermore and Fates Warning.