Hugh Syme























Hugh Syme
Nationality Canadian
Known for Graphic artist
Notable work

Rush art direction
Iron Maiden - The X Factor
Dream Theater Self-Titled
Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction
Website hughsyme.com

Hugh Syme is a Canadian Juno Award-winning graphic artist and member of the Premier Artists Collection (PAC) who is best known for his 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. Syme is notably responsible for all of Rush's album cover art since 1975's Caress of Steel as well as creating Rush's famous Starman logo. In 1983 he told Jeffrey Morgan that he never imagined the band would use it as their main logo.[1] Syme also plays piano on the album Thrilling Women, which Morgan recorded with Dean Motter.[2]


His client base includes major record companies like Geffen Records, EMI Records, Mercury Records, RCA Records, Capitol Records, Sony Music, Atlantic Records, Warner Bros. Records and A&M Records.[3]


Iron Maiden fans remember him best as the designer of The X Factor cover, which shows the band's mascot Eddie dissected. It is remembered for its gritty realism. Whereas all previous Maiden albums were oil paintings, the X Factor Eddie was a puppet with some digital touch-ups to enhance its 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).[citation needed]


Def Leppard's Retro Active album cover, which he co-designed with Nels Israelson, shows a lady sitting at a dressing table, looking in a mirror. From another perspective, it takes the form of a skull (a type of vanitas art), the woman's head forming the left eye socket, and her reflected head in the mirror forming the right eye socket. The mirror itself forms the shape of the skull and the accessories on the dressing table form the nose, nostrils and teeth. It was inspired by Charles Allan Gilbert's most famous work, All Is Vanity (1892).


Other bands Syme has done artwork for include: Megadeth, Saga, Styx, Altered State, Fates Warning, Whitesnake, Queensrÿche, Aerosmith, and Dream Theater.




Contents






  • 1 Personal


  • 2 Album cover art


  • 3 Discography


  • 4 Awards


  • 5 References


  • 6 External links





Personal


Syme has three daughters who reside in New Castle, Indiana.



Album cover art


Chronological list of Hugh Syme's album cover art (including studio, live, compilation and extended play LP's).









































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Year
Artist
Album
Role
1975

Rush

Caress of Steel[4]
Graphics
1975

Ian Thomas Band

Delights [5]
Graphics with John Fraser
1976

Ian Thomas Band

Calabash [5]
Graphics
1976

Rush

2112[6]
Graphics and Starman Logo
1976

Rush

All the World's a Stage[7]
Graphics
1977

Rush

A Farewell to Kings[8]
Art direction and graphics
1977

Max Webster

High Class in Borrowed Shoes
Art direction and graphics
1978

Rush

Hemispheres[9]
Art direction with Bob King and graphics
1978

Rush

Archives[10]
Design with Bob King and graphics
1978

Klaatu

Sir Army Suit
Cover art
1978

Max Webster

Mutiny Up My Sleeve
Art direction and design
1979

Ian Thomas Band

Glider [5]
Graphics and design with Bob King
1979

Max Webster

Live Magnetic Air
Art direction and graphics
1980

Rush

Permanent Waves[3]
Art direction and graphics. Cover concept created with Neil Peart.
1980

Toronto

Lookin' for Trouble
Graphics and design with Michael Gray.
1981

Rush

Moving Pictures[11]
Art direction and graphics. Cover concept created with Deborah Samuel.
1981

Rush

Exit...Stage Left[12]
Art direction, graphics and cover concept
1982

Rush

Signals[13]
Art direction, graphics and cover concept
1982

Saga

In Transit[14]
Art direction and design
1982

Gowan

Gowan
Art direction, graphics and cover concept
1982

Harlequin

One False Move
Cover design
1983

Red Rider

Neruda
Art direction and cover design
1984

Rush

Grace Under Pressure[3]
Art direction and cover painting
1984

Ian Thomas Band

Riders on Dark Horses [5]
Art direction and design
1984

The Parachute Club

At the Feet of the Moon
Art direction and graphics with Deborah Samuel
1985

Rush

Power Windows[3]
Art direction, graphics and cover painting
1985

Virgin Steele

Noble Savage
Art direction and design
1985

Kick Axe

Welcome to the Club
Art direction and cover art
1985
Robotman and Friends

Straight from the Heart
Cover painting
1986
Eyes

Eyes
Art direction and design
1986

Lee Aaron

Call of the Wild
Cover design
1986

Quiet Riot

QR III
Art direction, design, cover art
1986

Kim Mitchell

Shakin' Like a Human Being
Art direction and design
1986

Outlaws

Soldiers of Fortune
Art direction, design, cover painting
1987

Whitesnake

Whitesnake
Cover art and Whitesnake emblem
1987

Billy Thorpe

Children of the Sun... Revisited
Art direction and design
1987

Y & T

Contagious
Art direction
1987

McAuley Schenker Group

Perfect Timing
Art direction and design
1987

Rush

Hold Your Fire[3]
Art direction
1988

Colortone

Colortone
Art direction and design
1988

Rhythm Corps

Common Ground
Art direction and design
1988

Kingdom Come

Kingdom Come
Art direction and design
1988

Lillian Axe

Lillian Axe
Art direction and design
1988

Night Ranger

Man in Motion
Art direction
1988

Brighton Rock

Take a Deep Breath
Art direction and design
1988
Dream Patrol

Phoning the Czar
Art direction and design
1988

Quiet Riot

QR
Art direction and design
1988

Survivor

Too Hot to Sleep
Art direction and design
1988

Black 'n Blue

In Heat
Art direction and design
1988

Bon Jovi

New Jersey
Art direction with Jon Bon Jovi and design
1988

Ian Thomas Band

Levity [5]
Art direction and design
1988

Prophet

Cycle of the Moon
Art direction and design
1989

Rush

Presto[15]
Art direction
1989

Rush

A Show of Hands[16]
Art direction and design
1989

Kingdom Come

In Your Face
Design
1989

Bad English

Bad English
Art direction and design
1989

Fates Warning

Perfect Symmetry[3]
Cover concept, art direction and design
1989

Whitesnake

Slip of the Tongue
Cover art
1989

Kim Mitchell

Rockland
Art direction and design
1989

World Trade

World Trade[3]
Cover art and design
1989

Bonfire

Point Blank
Art direction and design
1989

Babylon A.D.

Babylon A.D.
Art direction and design
1990

Magnum

Goodnight L.A.[3]
Cover art
1990

Rush

Chronicles[17]
Art direction
1990

Slaughter

Stick It to Ya
Cover design with Glen Wexler
1990

Styx

Edge of the Century
Art direction and design
1990

Warrant

Cherry Pie[3]
Art direction and design
1990

Hurricane

Slave to the Thrill
Art direction and design
1990

Celine Dion

Unison
Art direction and design
1990

The Northern Pikes

Snow in June
Art direction and design
1990

Mae Moore

Oceanview Motel
Art direction and design
1991

Dan Hill

Dance of Love
Art direction and design
1991

Steve Plunkett

My Attitude
Art direction and design
1991

Rush

Roll the Bones[3]
Art direction and design
1991

Great White

Hooked
Art direction and design
1991

The Boomers YYZ

What We Do
Art direction and design
1991

Kik Tracee

No Rules
Art direction and design
1991

Fates Warning

Parallels
Art direction and design
1991

Kix

Hot Wire
Art direction and design
1991

Bad English

Backlash
Art direction and design
1991

Contraband

Contraband
Art direction with Frenchy Gauthier and design
1991

The Storm

The Storm[3]
Art direction and design
1992

McAuley Schenker Group

M.S.G.
Art direction and design
1992

House of Lords

Demons Down
Design with Glen Wexler
1992

54•40

Dear Dear[3]
Art direction and design
1992

Kiss

Revenge
Art direction
1992

Skew Siskin

Skew Siskin
Art direction and design
1992

The Jeff Healey Band

Feel This
Art direction and design with Tom Stephen
1992

Me Phi Me

One
Art direction
1992

Steelheart

Tangled in Reins
Art direction and design
1992

21 Guns

Salute
Art direction and design
1992

Megadeth

Countdown to Extinction[3]
Art direction and design
1992

Unruly Child

Unruly Child[3]
Art direction and design
1992
Sister Whiskey

Sister Whiskey (Liquor & Poker)
Cover art
1992

Impellitteri

Grin and Bear It
Prop design
1993

Aerosmith

Get a Grip[3]
Cover design
1993

Altered State

Dos
Art direction, design
1993

Def Leppard

Retro Active[3]
Art direction, design and digital illustration with Nels Israelson
1993

Coverdale/Page

Coverdale/Page
Art direction and design
1993

Helix

It's a Business Doing Pleasure
Cover art and design
1993

Damn the Machine

Damn the Machine
Art direction and design
1993

Every Mother's Nightmare

Wake Up Screaming
Art direction and design
1993

Rush

Counterparts[18]
Art direction, illustrations and design
1993

BulletBoys

Za-Za
Lettering, letter design
1993

The Boomers

The Art of Living
Art direction, illustrations and design
1993

The Band

Jericho
Cover art, art direction and design
1994

Stray Cats

Choo Choo Hot Fish
Art direction and design
1994

Roger Clinton

Nothing Good Comes Easy
Artwork and design
1994

Dave Edmunds

Plugged In
Art direction and design
1994

Whitesnake

Greatest Hits
Art direction and design
1994

Megadeth

Youthanasia[3]
Design and digital illustration. Art direction with Tommy Steele.
1994

Queensrÿche

Promised Land
Art direction, design and digital illustration
1994

Tesla

Bust a Nut[3]
Artwork, art direction, design
1994

Fates Warning

Inside Out
Artwork and design
1994
Various artists

Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich
Art direction and design
1995

Iron Maiden

The X Factor[3]
Art direction, design, illustrations, digital illustrations
1996

Celine Dion

Live à Paris[3]
Art direction, graphic concept
1996

Rush

Test for Echo[3]
Art direction, design and digital illustration
1996

The Band

High on the Hog
Art direction and design
1996

The Boomers

25 Thousand Days
Art direction, illustrations and design
1996

Earth, Wind & Fire

Greatest Hits Live
Art direction and design
1996
Pod

Headed for the Zeros
Art direction, illustrations and design
1997

Alice Cooper

A Fistful of Alice[3]
Cover design
1997

Queensrÿche

Hear in the Now Frontier[3]
Art direction, artwork and design with Dimo Safari
1997

Supertramp

Some Things Never Change[3]
Art direction and design
1997

Megadeth

Cryptic Writings
Art Direction, design and illustrations
1997

Rush

Retrospective I[19]
Art direction and design
1997

Rush

Retrospective II[19]
Art direction, design and cover painting
1997

Whitesnake

Restless Heart[3]
Art direction, emblem design and cover concept with Dimo Safari and David Coverdale
1997

Earth, Wind and Fire

In the Name of Love
Art direction, design and digital illustration
1997
Various artists

Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich, Vol. 2
Art direction and design
1998

Arena

The Visitor[3]
Art direction and design
1998

Rush

Different Stages[20]
Art direction, illustration and design
1998

Uriah Heep

Classic Heep: An Anthology
Art direction and design
1999

The Kings

The Kings Are Here..and More
Design
1999

Tiles

Presents of Mind
Cover concept, artwork and design
1999

Henry Lee Summer

Smoke and Mirrors
Art direction and design
1999

Charlotte Church

Charlotte Church
Art direction, design and photography
2000

Arena

Immortal?[3]
Art direction and design
2000

Queensrÿche

Greatest Hits
Art direction and design
2000

Carrie Newcomer

Age of Possibility
Art direction and design
2001
Jennie Devoe

Does She Walk on Water
Art direction and design
2001

Megadeth

The World Needs a Hero
Art direction, design and illustrations
2001

Deep Blue Something

Deep Blue Something
Art direction and design
2001

The Bacon Brothers

Can't Complain
Art direction, design and illustrations
2001

Deana Carter

Father Christmas
Design
2002

Rush

Vapor Trails[21]
Art direction, paintings and portraits
2002

Heather Myles

Sweet Talk and Good Lies
Art direction and design
2002

Styx

At the River's Edge: Live in St. Louis
Logo design
2002

Carrie Newcomer

The Gathering of Spirits
Art direction and design
2002

The Boomers

Midway
Art direction, illustrations and design
2003

The Allman Brothers Band

Hittin' the Note
Art direction, illustrations
2003

Extol

Synergy[22]
Cover art
2003

Rush

Rush in Rio[23]
Art direction, illustrations and design
2003

Rush

The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974–1987[24]
Art direction and design
2003
The Wayfaring Strangers

This Train
Art direction
2003

Quill•Tolhurst

So Rudely Interrupted
Cover art and graphics
2004
Travis Larson

Burn Season
Art direction
2004

Billy Jonas

Get Real
Art direction, illustrations and design
2004

Carrie Newcomer

Betty's Diner: The Best of Carrie Newcomer
Art direction and design
2004

Tiles

Window Dressing
Artwork, photography and design
2004

Rush

Feedback (EP)[25]
Art direction, illustrations and design
2005
Various artists
Subdivisions: A Tribute to Rush
Art direction and design
2005

Dream Theater

Octavarium
Art direction, illustrations and design
2005

Nevermore

This Godless Endeavor
Cover art
2005

Bad Moon Rising

Full Moon Collection
Design
2005

Carrie Newcomer

Regulars and Refugees
Art direction and design
2005

Rush

R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour
Art direction, illustrations and design
2006
Oneside

Oneside
Art direction, illustrations and design
2006

Rush

Gold[26]
Art direction and design
2006

Rush

Rush Replay X 3
Art direction and design
2006

Stone Sour

Come What(ever) May
Art direction, illustrations and design
2007

Dream Theater

Systematic Chaos
Art direction, illustrations and design
2007

Rush

Snakes & Arrows[27]
Art direction, illustrations and design
2007

Queensrÿche

Sign of the Times: The Best of Queensrÿche
Art direction, illustrations and design
2007

Byron Nemeth Group

The Force Within
Art direction, illustrations and design
2007

Krista Detor

Cover Their Eyes
Art direction and design
2007

Charlotte Church

The Charlotte Church Show
Art direction, photography and design
2008
Oneside

First, to Last
Art direction and design
2008

Tiles

Fly Paper
Artwork, design, photography, and illustrations
2008

Dream Theater

Greatest Hit (...And 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)
Art direction, design, photography, and illustrations
2008

Dream Theater

Chaos in Motion 2007–2008
Artwork and design
2008

Cynic (UK)

Suburban Crisis
Art Direction, Photography, and Design
2008

Rush

Snakes & Arrows Live[28]
Art direction, illustrations and design
2008

Bob Mover

It Amazes Me
Art direction, photography and design
2009

Queensrÿche

American Soldier
Art direction, illustrations and design
2009

Rush

Retrospective 3[29]
Art direction and design
2009

Rush

Grace Under Pressure Tour
Art direction and design
2009

Dream Theater

Black Clouds and Silver Linings[30]
Art direction, illustrations and design
2009
Flying Machines

Flying Machines
Art direction, illustrations and design
2010

Carrie Newcomer

Before & After
Art direction and design
2010

Krista Detor

Chocolate Paper Suites
Art direction, illustrations and design
2010

Rush

Icon
Cover art
2011

Rush

Icon 2
Cover art
2011

3 Doors Down

Time of My Life
Cover concept, art direction, illustrations and design
2011

Dream Theater

A Dramatic Turn of Events
Art direction and design
2011

Rush

Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland
Art direction and design
2012
Betrayer

Betrayer
Art direction, artwork and design
2012

Rush

Clockwork Angels
Cover art
2012

Rush

2112 5.1
Art direction and design
2012

Tiles

Off the Floor 01
Cover art
2013

Dream Theater

Dream Theater
Cover and album design
2014

Carrie Newcomer

A Permeable Life

2014

Tiles

Off the Floor 02
Cover art
2014

Flying Colors

Second Nature[31]
art direction, design, illustrations
2014

Dream Theater

Breaking the Fourth Wall
Cover art
2018

Alien Country

Like My Life Depends On It
Art Director, artwork and design
2018

Dream Theater

Distance Over Time
Cover art


Discography


Syme has contributed as a musician with Ian Thomas Band,[32] Rush and Tiles.


with Ian Thomas Band




  • Delights - piano, Fender Rhodes, Mellotron and background vocals


  • Calabash - keyboards, background vocals and creative companionship


  • Still Here - keyboards and background vocals


  • Glider - keyboards and all songs arranged with Ian Thomas


  • The Runner - keyboards and background vocals


with Rush




  • 2112 - synthesizer intro to "2112: Overture" and mellotron on "Tears" [6]


  • Permanent Waves - piano on "Different Strings" [33]


  • Moving Pictures - synthesizers on "Witch Hunt" [11]


with Tiles




  • Window Dressing - keyboards on "Slippers in the Snow"


  • Fly Paper - keyboards on "Crowded Emptiness" and solo piano on "Passing Notes"



Awards


Juno Awards: 5 wins and 18 nominations.[34]




  • 1999: Best Album Design nomination - Different Stages by Rush, with Geddy Lee and Andrew MacNaughtan


  • 1993: Best Album Design nomination - Dear Dear by 54-40


  • 1992: Best Album Design nomination - Big House by Big House


  • 1992: Best Album Design win - Roll the Bones by Rush


  • 1991: Best Album Design nomination - Oceanview Motel by Mae Moore


  • 1991: Best Album Design nomination - Snow in June by The Northern Pikes


  • 1990: Best Album Design win - Presto by Rush


  • 1990: Best Album Design nomination - Rockland by Kim Mitchell


  • 1989: Best Album Graphics win - Levity by Ian Thomas


  • 1986: Best Album Graphics nomination - Robot Man and Friends by Peter Shelly, with Heather Brown and Peter Shelly


  • 1986: Best Album Graphics win - Power Windows by Rush, with Dimo Safari


  • 1985: Best Album Graphics nomination - At the Feet of the Moon by Parachute Club, with Deborah Samuel


  • 1983: Best Album Graphics nomination - Signals by Rush


  • 1983: Best Album Graphics nomination - One False Move by Harlequin


  • 1982: Best Album Graphics nomination - Exit...Stage Left by Rush, with Deborah Samuel


  • 1982: Best Album Graphics win - Moving Pictures by Rush, with Deborah Samuel


  • 1981: Best Album Graphics nomination - Lookin' for Trouble by Toronto, with Michael Gray


  • 1978: Best Album Graphics nomination - A Farewell to Kings by Rush



References





  1. ^ Morgan, Jeffrey. CREEM Magazine, 1983.


  2. ^ Thrilling Women: The Lost Air Pirates Sessions - Toronto: 1978 - 1980


  3. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaa "Hugh Syme". Hugh Syme. Archived from the original on 2014-07-30. Retrieved 2014-07-23..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  4. ^ [1] Archived March 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.


  5. ^ abcde [2] Archived October 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.


  6. ^ ab [3] Archived February 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.


  7. ^ [4] Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.


  8. ^ [5] Archived February 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.


  9. ^ [6] Archived February 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.


  10. ^ [7] Archived April 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.


  11. ^ ab [8] Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.


  12. ^ [9] Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.


  13. ^ [10] Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.


  14. ^ "SAGA: In transit ::". Saga-denmark.com. 1982-02-05. Archived from the original on 2014-07-26. Retrieved 2014-07-23.


  15. ^ [11] Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.


  16. ^ [12] Archived May 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.


  17. ^ [13] Archived April 26, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.


  18. ^ [14] Archived February 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.


  19. ^ ab [15] Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.


  20. ^ [16] Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.


  21. ^ [17] Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.


  22. ^ "Extol cover". Ecx.images-amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-07-23.


  23. ^ [18] Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.


  24. ^ [19] Archived April 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.


  25. ^ [20] Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.


  26. ^ [21] Archived April 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.


  27. ^ [22] Archived February 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.


  28. ^ [23] Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.


  29. ^ [24] Archived April 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.


  30. ^ "Mike Portnoy on Eddie Trunk Show". FileFront.com. 2009-03-17. Retrieved 2009-03-18.


  31. ^ "Radiant Records. Flying Colors - Second Nature". radiantrecords.com. Retrieved 2014-08-09.


  32. ^ "Official Site of Ian Thomas Band". Archived from the original on 2009-10-25.


  33. ^ [25] Archived February 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.


  34. ^ "Juno Awards site".




External links



  • Hugh Syme biography

  • Hugh Syme homepage

  • Hugh's Premier Artists Collection (PAC) profile










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