At the heart of all the madness is Iron Maiden's beloved mascot, Eddie the Head. Eddie has been with the band since the beginning, making his debut on the first album cover in 1980. He is in some ways the sixth member of the band, making appearances at all of their live shows in one form or another (he was first a papier-mâché head that spit blood). Eddie's evolution as a character developed from the artwork rendered by Derek Riggs and later Melvyn Grant. Over the years he has given Maiden an iconic image with which to associate their name, and is easily the most successful heavy metal mascot ever conceived. Along with being told to up your irons, being asked which of the many versions of Eddie happens to be your favorite is a question every Maiden fan gets asked at one point or another... and they better have the answer prepared!