But some fans are insisting that this is a joke - a poorly played joke, but a joke nonetheless. The band and webmaster aren't budging, but there are some hints here and there - this tour poster, for example, shows Eddie alone, with only one CG figure appearing out of the side of the poster. There have also been comments that the artwork that has shown up on EMI's site is different than what's been shown on the official site - the wolf's snout behind Eddie, one of the dancer's arms not around him. The artwork has even reached beyond music borders and put graphics guru at arms - as evidenced by this seven page thread on CG Talk.
So is this childishly executed artwork for real? Die-hard fans are practically having seizures at the thought, but singer Bruce Dickinson has slyly hinted that this may not be so set-in-stone. On MTV Europe's Headbanger's Ball, Bruce is reported to have indicated that fans won't see the real artwork until the release date, indicating, in a roundabout way, that what's on the site isn't really the real artwork. We'll just have to wait and see, he says.
So what's the deal? Is it a joke on fans - and a way to expose the fickle fair-weather fans - or is it a ploy for exposure? The world - well, the portion that care about Iron Maiden - will have to wait, apparently. In the meantime, take a look at the great artwork we've seen in the past, below...
(And I'm really, really amazed that I spent the amount of time I just did researching this. You can see more nutty, wacky zaniness like this at unproductivity.)
Article comments
1 - The Theory
good article. iron maiden is known, by me, for their insane covers.
peace.
2 - Arrakis
Very good article!
Really, to find someone who LIKES the cover would be a true miracle! I also do not like it! And find it very weird a band like IM wants to release this. I mean i've always know them to be almost perfectionist in relation to the all product they put out...
Ok, i guess we'll have to wait and see!
Nevertheless, IT WILL BE ONE HELL OF A GOOD ALBUM!!!!!!!!!!!!Sure of that!
3 - TDavid
How appropriate for Maiden fans to give a piece of their minds. Personally I didn't care much for the cover either, but as someone in that combustible thread pointed out, it's the music not the cover artwork that makes the band. Cover sort of reminded me of the old Grim Reaper covers (any other metal heads here remember them?)
4 - Xmachina
Very interesting article... Bruce's comments are surprising!!! If the final cover is different, the credibility of the official site could dramatically decrease.
5 - Jeff Kent
Interesting note. Although the posted art appeared in the Sony new release book, it has not yet been added to the Sony b2b artwork site (as of 8/19).
6 - Don Juan
Tom Johnson could call Iron Maiden or Sanctuary Management , ask about that horrible artwork and include the comments on the article.
7 - SirLardsAlot
Cool article. I post alot on that Iron Maiden forum, and it's cool to see that our opinions are being heard.
8 - Powerfull
this is stupid.....the dance of death cover is real
9 - Tom Johnson
UPDATE: It is indeed real, I've seen the Japanese printing. How sad, this is easily the worst artwork I've ever seen for an established, well-known band. How embarassing for the band and fans.
10 - beelzebub
IRON-MAIDEN was one of my favourite bands, but I think it is getting too comercial. BUT STILL THEY ROCK!! :D
11 - TDavid
Got the new CD last week and am still playing it.
Nudity alert inside the CD insert! Yeah, it's fuzzy nudity, but I think this might be a first for a Maiden cover insert. If I'm wrong about that then someone please correct me.
12 - james
Looks to me like they were trying to rip off the old Cathedral album covers, and failed miserably!!!!
13 - Stego
The demise of LP records (and their decent sized cover) killed off the need for album artwork. CDs are too small to bother nowadays, No more 'Somewhere in Time' type detail, pity.
14 - Stego
Eileen, I love you.
15 - Tom Johnson
Good to know, Stego. Good to know.
16 - TDavid
DVDs still hold for a larger palette size.
17 - eric f
give my some good info about iron maiden like awards they won / where they lived where they grown up mostly about them
18 - Bill Ingram
I have been a fan of IM since 1980, and let me tell you they are perfectionists. I agree that the cover of Dance w/ death does not even come close to what the fans would want but the issue lies with Derek Riggs. Does he not want to do it anymore? I know he had a strict contract where he could only make art for Maiden. Derek if you are out there and read this, we need you back!
19 - Ferny
Im a diehard fan and personaly i think that the music matters more than the art on the cover.
20 - Random
It's so funny looking back on this 5 years later and realizing how convinced everyone was that this was a hoax.