2 cover stories in our archive
Behind the Covers' archive includes 2 album covers documented under the "mascot" design theme, spanning the 1980s, 2000s. These covers sit within the metal, hip-hop tradition and feature work by Iron Maiden, Kanye West. Each entry below includes the cover artwork, the designers and photographers behind it, and a short story about the visual choices that defined the release.
Derek Riggs transformed Iron Maiden's mascot Eddie into a towering Egyptian pharaoh for this elaborate ancient tomb scene. The artist spent months researching hieroglyphics and Egyptian art to create what many consider the most ambitious Eddie artwork ever painted.
Kanye West's mascot bear was born from designer Eric Johnson's interpretation of the dropout theme, creating one of hip-hop's most endearing and merchandisable visual identities through simple cartoon illustration.