Now There’s a Petition for Iron Maiden to Bring Back Artist Derek Riggs

Is it me or is all this petition business getting completely out of hand? They’re harmless, sure, but they’re also pointless. Did the people who started the petition to get Ghost to break up actually believe they’d be able to accomplish that feat if only they could gather enough (10,000!) signatures? How’d they choose that number for the goal as opposed to, say, 15,000, or 5,000 or 500? Did they actually believe Ghost would see it? I suppose they were correct on the latter — a Nameless Ghoul even commented on it in an interview — but it stands to reason that the more of these petitions come about the less traction they’ll get in the media and the less seriously they’ll be taken.

And so: Derek Tigner of Modesto, CA seems to believe that if only he can gather 1,500 signatures (again, why that particular number?) he’ll be able to get Iron Maiden to rekindle their relationship with artist Derek Riggs, who, of course, created the Eddie character and designed their most famous album covers but had a falling out with the band and their management several years ago.

Apparently said falling out is nothing that the typed names of 1,500 random Internet weirdos can’t mend! Cue the petition:

It is important to countless fans all of the world because Derek Riggs artwork and visual direction is second to none. Many fans view his artwork to be as influential as the music IRON MAIDEN produces. Things haven’t been the same since he stopped being IRON MAIDEN’S exclusive artist, so we plead with the band to bring him back for any future artwork needs.

To:
IRON MAIDEN

BRING BACK DEREK RIGGS

Sincerely,
[Your name]