Live After Death - Cover Art

Cover Art

The cover art was done by Derek Riggs, and pictures the band's mascot, Eddie, rising from a grave. Engraved on his tombstone is a quote from fantasy and horror fiction author H. P. Lovecraft's The Nameless City:

"That is not dead which can eternal lie
Yet with strange aeons even death may die."

The correct quote is actually "And with strange..." instead of "Yet with strange...". A similar version of this phrase is used in Metallica's song "The Thing That Should Not Be" from the Master of Puppets album. (See also: the Necronomicon.)

Also engraved onto the headstone is what appears to be Eddie's full name, "Edward T H--", the remainder of which (his supposed surname, "Head") is obscured by a clump of sod.

The cover depicts Eddie as he is seen on covers before and including Number of the Beast (with long hair) though he is also bound by metal cuffs connected by an electrical surge, as seen in the Powerslave merchandise, and also the metal screws from his Piece of Mind lobotomy.

The back cover also shows Death in the clouds above the destroyed city. This is the fourth cover where its figure can be seen (the first being "Twilight Zone", the second being "The Trooper" and the third being the back of Powerslave. The fifth time is the back of Somewhere in Time, however, the reaper would also be portrayed by Eddie himself on Dance of Death and Death on the Road). Near Eddie's grave is a black cat with a halo, which also features in the Somewhere in Time and Twilight Zone artwork. To the cat's left, there is a tombstone engraved with "Here lies Derek Riggs".

In 2007 The National Entertainment Collectibles Association released an action figure diorama of the album cover. It is the third in the series, along with other available figurines based on Somewhere in Time, Phantom of the Opera and Piece of Mind.