DESCRIPTION:
During Maiden's pub and club years, Eddie had been a head on a board at the back of the venue with the band's name on it. He would have flashing eyes and spew blood from his mouth when the band played their signature song, 'Iron Maiden'. It would also be normal for their manger and/or roadies to don Eddie masks and run around the stage screaming and jumping around at fans. Eddie has always been a part of the band's spectacular live act. On the cover of their self-titled debut album (not inspired by the picture of Neal Kay, the man pretty much responsible for the NWOBHM2), Eddie is simply there. On the 1998 reissue of the album, Eddie was changed slightly. The hair became white instead of gingerish, and he had cool glowing red eyes.

We started to call the mask The ead, because you dont pronounce the H in London, says Harris. And from there he just became Eddie the ead. Eddie remained in this bodiless state until the end of 1979, when Rod Smallwood came across a poster drawn b artist Derek Riggs and asked him to bring his portfolio up to Maidens office. The band was particularly impressed with one Riggs drawing of a wild-eyed, spiky-haired punk, and decided to use it for the cover of their debut album.