Hugh Syme

Last updated
Hugh Syme
Born
Hugh Syme

1953 (age 71–72)
Canada
Known for Graphic artist, keyboardist
Notable work
Website www.hughsyme.com

Hugh Syme is a Canadian Juno Award-winning graphic artist and member of the Premier Artists Collection (PAC), best known for his artwork and cover concepts for rock and metal bands. He is also a musician and has contributed as a keyboard player on several Rush albums.

Contents

Career

Syme has been responsible for all of Rush's album cover art since 1975's Caress of Steel and is the creator of 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 such as Geffen Records, EMI Records, Mercury Records, RCA Records, Capitol Records, Sony Music, Atlantic Records, Warner Records, and A&M Records. [3]

Iron Maiden fans remember him best as the designer of The X Factor cover, which depicts the band's mascot Eddie in a dissection. It is noted for its gritty realism. While all previous Maiden albums featured oil paintings, the X Factor Eddie was a puppet with some digital enhancements to improve its appearance. In some countries, the cover was deemed so gruesome that a less graphic alternative was offered (the alternative cover is actually the back of the original CD booklet).

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

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

Album cover art

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

YearArtistAlbumRole
1975 Rush Caress of Steel [4] Graphics
1975 Ian Thomas Band Delights [5] Graphics with John Fraser
1976 Ian Thomas Band Calabash [5] Graphics
1976Rush 2112 [6] Graphics and Starman Logo
1976Rush All the World's a Stage [7] Graphics
1977Rush A Farewell to Kings [8] Art direction and graphics
1977 Max Webster High Class in Borrowed Shoes Art direction and graphics
1978Rush Hemispheres [9] Art direction with Bob King and graphics
1978Rush Archives [10] Design with Bob King and graphics
1978 Klaatu Sir Army Suit Cover art
1978Max Webster Mutiny Up My Sleeve Art direction and design
1979Ian Thomas BandGlider [5] Graphics and design with Bob King
1979Max Webster Live Magnetic Air Art direction and graphics
1980Rush Permanent Waves [3] Art direction and graphics. Cover concept created with Neil Peart.
1980 Toronto Lookin' for Trouble Graphics and design with Michael Gray.
1981Rush Moving Pictures [11] Art direction and graphics. Cover concept created with Deborah Samuel.
1981Rush Exit...Stage Left [12] Art direction, graphics and cover concept
1982Rush Signals [13] Art direction, graphics and cover concept
1982 Saga In Transit [14] Art direction and design
1982 Gowan GowanArt direction, graphics and cover concept
1982 Harlequin One False MoveCover design
1983 Red Rider Neruda Art direction and cover design
1984Rush Grace Under Pressure [3] Art direction and cover painting
1984Ian Thomas BandRiders on Dark Horses [5] Art direction and design
1984 The Parachute Club At the Feet of the MoonArt direction and graphics with Deborah Samuel
1985Rush 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
1985Robotman and FriendsStraight from the HeartCover painting
1986EyesEyesArt 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... RevisitedArt direction and design
1987 Y & T Contagious Art direction
1987 McAuley Schenker Group Perfect Timing Art direction and design
1987Rush Hold Your Fire [3] Art direction
1988ColortoneColortoneArt 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 AxeArt direction and design
1988 Night Ranger Man in Motion Art direction
1988 Brighton Rock Take a Deep Breath Art direction and design
1988Dream PatrolPhoning the CzarArt direction and design
1988Quiet 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
1988Ian Thomas BandLevity [5] Art direction and design
1988 Prophet Cycle of the MoonArt direction and design
1989Rush Presto [15] Art direction
1989Rush A Show of Hands [16] Art direction and design
1989Kingdom 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
1989Whitesnake Slip of the Tongue Cover art
1989Kim 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
1990Rush 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 MotelArt direction and design
1991 Dan Hill Dance of LoveArt direction and design
1991 Steve Plunkett My AttitudeArt direction and design
1991Rush Roll the Bones [3] Art direction and design
1991 Great White Hooked Art direction and design
1991 The Boomers YYZ What We DoArt direction and design
1991 Kik Tracee No Rules Art direction and design
1991Fates Warning Parallels Art direction and design
1991 Kix Hot Wire Art direction and design
1991Bad English Backlash Art direction and design
1991 Contraband ContrabandArt direction with Frenchy Gauthier and design
1991 The Storm The Storm [3] Art direction and design
1992McAuley 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 OneArt 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
1992Sister WhiskeySister 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 MachineArt direction and design
1993 Every Mother's Nightmare Wake Up ScreamingArt direction and design
1993Rush Counterparts [18] Art direction, illustrations and design
1993 BulletBoys Za-Za Lettering, letter design
1993 The Boomers The Art of LivingArt direction, illustrations and design
1993 The Band Jericho Cover art, art direction and design
1994 Stray Cats Choo Choo Hot FishArt direction and design
1994 Roger Clinton Nothing Good Comes EasyArtwork and design
1994 Dave Edmunds Plugged In Art direction and design
1994Whitesnake Greatest Hits Art direction and design
1994Megadeth 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
1994Fates Warning Inside Out Artwork and design
1994Various 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
1996Celine Dion Live à Paris [3] Art direction, graphic concept
1996Rush Test for Echo [3] Art direction, design and digital illustration
1996The Band High on the Hog Art direction and design
1996The Boomers25 Thousand DaysArt direction, illustrations and design
1996 Earth, Wind & Fire Greatest Hits Live Art direction and design
1996PodHeaded for the ZerosArt direction, illustrations and design
1997 Alice Cooper A Fistful of Alice [3] Cover design
1997Queensrÿche 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
1997Megadeth Cryptic Writings Art Direction, design and illustrations
1997Rush Retrospective I [19] Art direction and design
1997Rush Retrospective II [19] Art direction, design and cover painting
1997Whitesnake Restless Heart [3] Art direction, emblem design and cover concept with Dimo Safari and David Coverdale
1997Earth, Wind and Fire In the Name of Love Art direction, design and digital illustration
1997Various 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
1998Rush Different Stages [20] Art direction, illustration and design
1998 Uriah Heep Classic Heep: An AnthologyArt direction and design
1999 The Kings The Kings Are Here..and MoreDesign
1999 Tiles Presents of MindCover concept, artwork and design
1999 Henry Lee Summer Smoke and MirrorsArt direction and design
1999 Charlotte Church Charlotte Church Art direction, design and photography
2000Arena Immortal? [3] Art direction and design
2000Queensrÿche Greatest Hits Art direction and design
2000 Carrie Newcomer Age of PossibilityArt direction and design
2001Jennie DevoeDoes She Walk on WaterArt direction and design
2001Megadeth 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 ComplainArt direction, design and illustrations
2001 Deana Carter Father ChristmasDesign
2002Rush Vapor Trails [21] Art direction, paintings and portraits
2002 Heather Myles Sweet Talk and Good Lies Art direction and design
2002Styx At the River's Edge: Live in St. Louis Logo design
2002Carrie NewcomerThe Gathering of SpiritsArt direction and design
2002The BoomersMidwayArt direction, illustrations and design
2003 The Allman Brothers Band Hittin' the Note Art direction, illustrations
2003 Extol Synergy [22] Cover art
2003Rush Rush in Rio [23] Art direction, illustrations and design
2003Rush The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974–1987 [24] Art direction and design
2003The Wayfaring StrangersThis TrainArt direction
2003 Quill•Tolhurst So Rudely InterruptedCover art and graphics
2004Travis LarsonBurn SeasonArt direction
2004 Billy Jonas Get RealArt direction, illustrations and design
2004Carrie NewcomerBetty's Diner: The Best of Carrie NewcomerArt direction and design
2004TilesWindow DressingArtwork, photography and design
2004Rush Feedback (EP) [25] Art direction, illustrations and design
2005Various artistsSubdivisions: A Tribute to RushArt 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 CollectionDesign
2005Carrie NewcomerRegulars and RefugeesArt direction and design
2005Rush R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour Art direction, illustrations and design
2006OnesideOnesideArt direction, illustrations and design
2006Rush Gold [26] Art direction and design
2006Rush Rush Replay X 3 Art direction and design
2006 Stone Sour Come What(ever) May Art direction, illustrations and design
2007Dream Theater Systematic Chaos Art direction, illustrations and design
2007Rush Snakes & Arrows [27] Art direction, illustrations and design
2007Queensrÿche Sign of the Times: The Best of Queensrÿche Art direction, illustrations and design
2007Byron Nemeth GroupThe Force WithinArt direction, illustrations and design
2007 Krista Detor Cover Their Eyes Art direction and design
2007 Charlotte Church The Charlotte Church ShowArt direction, photography and design
2008OnesideFirst, to LastArt direction and design
2008TilesFly PaperArtwork, design, photography, and illustrations
2008Dream Theater Greatest Hit (...And 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) Art direction, design, photography, and illustrations
2008Dream Theater Chaos in Motion 2007–2008 Artwork and design
2008Cynic (UK)Suburban CrisisArt Direction, Photography, and Design
2008Rush Snakes & Arrows Live [28] Art direction, illustrations and design
2008 Bob Mover It Amazes MeArt direction, photography and design
2009Queensrÿche American Soldier Art direction, illustrations and design
2009Rush Retrospective 3 [29] Art direction and design
2009Rush Grace Under Pressure Tour Art direction and design
2009Dream Theater Black Clouds & Silver Linings [30] Art direction, illustrations and design
2009Flying MachinesFlying MachinesArt direction, illustrations and design
2010Carrie NewcomerBefore & AfterArt direction and design
2010 Krista Detor Chocolate Paper SuitesArt direction, illustrations and design
2010RushIconCover art
2011RushIcon 2Cover art
2011 3 Doors Down Time of My Life Cover concept, art direction, illustrations and design
2011Dream Theater A Dramatic Turn of Events Art direction and design
2011Rush Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland Art direction and design
2012BetrayerBetrayerArt direction, artwork and design
2012Rush Clockwork Angels Cover art
2012Rush2112 5.1Art direction and design
2012TilesOff the Floor 01Cover art
2013Dream Theater Dream Theater Cover and album design
2014Carrie NewcomerA Permeable Life
2014TilesOff the Floor 02Cover art
2014 Flying Colors Second Nature [31] art direction, design, illustrations
2014Dream Theater Breaking the Fourth Wall Cover art
2017RushA Farewell To Kings-40th Anniversary Deluxe EditionArt Direction and design
2018RushHemispheres-40th Anniversary Deluxe EditionArt Direction and design
2018 Alien Country Like My Life Depends on It Archived 2018-12-05 at the Wayback Machine Art Director, artwork and design
2019Dream Theater Distance Over Time Cover art
2020RushPermanent Waves-40th Anniversary Deluxe EditionArt Direction and design
2020Gustavo Carmo (feat. Brian Tichy, Rudy Sarzo & Derek Sherinian)On and OffCover art
2020Wandering XCarved in StoneCover art
2020Dream Theater Distant Memories - Live in London Cover art
2021Rivers & Rust"What a Waste"Cover art
2021Wandering XLife ExpectancyCover art
2021Joe Bonamassa Time Clocks Cover art
2021Carrie NewcomerUntil NowCover art
2021 Fairy Tale That Is The QuestionCover art
2021Dream Theater A View from the Top of the World Cover art
2021Benjamin CroftFar & Distant ThingsCover art
2022 Talas 1985Cover art
2022RushMoving Pictures (40th Anniversary)Art Direction and design
2022TRIBUTESSongs for Neil Vol. 3Cover art
2022Brother DynamiteIf We DareCover art
2022 Dane Clark Memory MileCover art
2022A-ZA-ZCover art
2022SOMAHeaded for the ZerosCover art
2022Hilario Durán and David Virelles Front Street DuetsCover art
2023Arch EchoFinal PitchArtwork, Illustration, Design
2023RushSignals (40th Anniversary)Artwork, Illustration, Design
2024OrionThe LightbringersArt direction, Design
2024 Robert Jon & the Wreck Red Moon RisingArt direction, Design
2024 Black Country Communion V Art direction, Illustration, Design
2025 Dane Clark Guru's, Hitmen & HeavenArt direction, Illustration, Design
2025Dream Theater Parasomnia Cover art, album design
2025A-ZA-Z²Cover art

Discography

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

with Ian Thomas Band

with Rush

with Tiles

with Alice in Chains

with Jim McCarty

Awards

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

Controversy

Clip art and stock imagery usage

Syme has been criticized for his usage of clip art and stock imagery. In 2011, heavy metal music-themed news website MetalSucks called attention to the clip art Syme used for Dream Theater's A Dramatic Turn of Events , as well as noted the same clip art image appears on Norwegian progressive metal band Circus Maximus's 2005 album The 1st Chapter . [35] [36] As written by MetalSucks: "Dream Theater might’ve gotten away with it if wasn’t for those pesky kids in Circus Maximus, whose 2005 album featured the very same $15.00 clip art image on the cover." [35]

Double-selling artwork allegations

Upon release of Dream Theater's Parasomnia in February 2025, allegations quickly emerged of Syme potentially double-selling artwork, as his Parasomnia artwork appeared identical to his artwork on Orion's The Lightbringers, [37] released six-months prior on August 16, 2024. [38] Taking to social media on February 7, 2025, Orion's Ben Jones called out Syme in a Facebook post: "Is this for real?! A piece of artwork in the new Dream Theater deluxe edition is the EXACT same piece of artwork that was in The Lightbringers booklet for the song 'The Ghosts Among Us' ... Hugh Syme did the artwork for my album and theirs, so I think I can see where this is going..." [39] While Syme remained silent on the matter, Jones followed up: "I’ve never suggested plagiarism – in fact, I’ve repeatedly emphasized that Dream Theater are also victims of Hugh’s negligence." As Dream Theater's manager Frank Solomon reached out privately to Jones, Jones recalled: "We had a very amicable exchange ... Despite owing me nothing, Frank made a very kind offer, which I plan to accept. I want to be clear – Dream Theater committed no wrongdoing in this situation." [40]

References

  1. ↑ Morgan, Jeffrey. CREEM Magazine, 1983.
  2. ↑ Thrilling Women: The Lost Air Pirates Sessions – Toronto: 1978 – 1980
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 "Hugh Syme". Hugh Syme. Archived from the original on 2014-07-30. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  4. ↑ Archived March 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Archived October 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  6. 1 2 Archived February 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ Archived February 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ Archived February 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Archived April 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  11. 1 2 Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ 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. ↑ Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ↑ Archived May 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ↑ Archived April 26, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ↑ Archived February 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  19. 1 2 Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ↑ Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  22. ↑ "Extol cover". Ecx.images-amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  23. ↑ Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  24. ↑ Archived April 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  25. ↑ Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  26. ↑ Archived April 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  27. ↑ Archived February 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  28. ↑ Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  29. ↑ Archived April 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  30. ↑ "Mike Portnoy on Eddie Trunk Show". FileFront.com. 2009-03-17. Archived from the original on 2009-03-22. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  31. ↑ "Radiant Records. Flying Colors - Second Nature". radiantrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
  32. ↑ "Official Site of Ian Thomas Band". Archived from the original on 2009-10-25.
  33. ↑ Archived February 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  34. ↑ "Juno Awards site".
  35. 1 2 Neilstein, Vince (2011-08-08). "DREAM THEATER USED CLIP ART FOR THEIR NEW ALBUM COVER". MetalSucks. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  36. ↑ "Circus Maximus Official Website - www.circusmaximussite.com". 2010-02-14. Archived from the original on 14 February 2010. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  37. ↑ wookubus (2025-02-10). "Artist Called Out For Allegedly Licensing Same Piece Of Artwork To Dream Theater & Orion". Theprp.com. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  38. ↑ Mind, The Prog (2024-08-14). "Orion – The Lightbringers". The PROG Mind. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  39. ↑ Seneca (2025-02-11). "Dream Theater's Artist Accused of Selling the Same Artwork to Multiple Bands". The Mosh Network. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  40. ↑ Mäenpää, Arto (2025-02-11). "Artist under fire for allegedly selling same artwork to both Dream Theater and Orion". Chaoszine. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
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