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Hugh Syme

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Revision as of 12:16, 28 May 2025 by imported>Gargaj
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Template:About Template:Short description Template:BLP sources Template:Infobox artist

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.

CareerEdit

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.<ref>Morgan, Jeffrey. CREEM Magazine, 1983.</ref> Syme also plays piano on the album Thrilling Women, which Morgan recorded with Dean Motter.<ref>Thrilling Women: The Lost Air Pirates Sessions – Toronto: 1978 – 1980</ref>

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.<ref name="hughsyme1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.

ControversyEdit

Clip art and stock imagery usageEdit

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.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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."<ref name=":0" />

Double-selling artwork allegationsEdit

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<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, released six-months prior on August 16, 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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..."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

PersonalEdit

Hugh Syme has studios in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and in Indiana, USA. He is the co-host of the Music Buzzz Podcast, alongside Dane Clark and Andy Wilson.

Album cover artEdit

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

Year Artist Album Role
1975 Rush Caress of Steel<ref>[1] Template:Webarchive</ref> Graphics
1975 Ian Thomas Band Delights <ref name="ianthomasband1">[2] Template:Webarchive</ref> Graphics with John Fraser
1976 Ian Thomas Band Calabash <ref name="ianthomasband1"/> Graphics
1976 Rush 2112<ref name="autogenerated1">[3] Template:Webarchive</ref> Graphics and Starman Logo
1976 Rush All the World's a Stage<ref>[4] Template:Webarchive</ref> Graphics
1977 Rush A Farewell to Kings<ref>[5] Template:Webarchive</ref> Art direction and graphics
1977 Max Webster High Class in Borrowed Shoes Art direction and graphics
1978 Rush Hemispheres<ref>[6] Template:Webarchive</ref> Art direction with Bob King and graphics
1978 Rush Archives<ref>[7] Template:Webarchive</ref> 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 <ref name="ianthomasband1"/> Graphics and design with Bob King
1979 Max Webster Live Magnetic Air Art direction and graphics
1980 Rush Permanent Waves<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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<ref name="autogenerated2">[8] Template:Webarchive</ref> Art direction and graphics. Cover concept created with Deborah Samuel.
1981 Rush Exit...Stage Left<ref>[9] Template:Webarchive</ref> Art direction, graphics and cover concept
1982 Rush Signals<ref>[10] Template:Webarchive</ref> Art direction, graphics and cover concept
1982 Saga In Transit<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> Art direction and cover painting
1984 Ian Thomas Band Riders on Dark Horses <ref name="ianthomasband1"/> 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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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 <ref name="ianthomasband1"/> Art direction and design
1988 Prophet Cycle of the Moon Art direction and design
1989 Rush Presto<ref>[11] Template:Webarchive</ref> Art direction
1989 Rush A Show of Hands<ref>[12] Template:Webarchive</ref> 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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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.<ref name="hughsyme1"/> Cover art
1990 Rush Chronicles<ref>[13] Template:Webarchive</ref> 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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> Art direction and design
1992 Unruly Child Unruly Child<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> Cover design
1993 Altered State Dos Art direction, design
1993 Def Leppard Retro Active<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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<ref>[14] Template:Webarchive</ref> 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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> Design and digital illustration. Art direction with Tommy Steele.
1994 Queensrÿche Promised Land Art direction, design and digital illustration
1994 Tesla Bust a Nut<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> Art direction, design, illustrations, digital illustrations
1996 Celine Dion Live à Paris<ref name="hughsyme1"/> Art direction, graphic concept
1996 Rush Test for Echo<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> Cover design
1997 Queensrÿche Hear in the Now Frontier<ref name="hughsyme1"/> Art direction, artwork and design with Dimo Safari
1997 Supertramp Some Things Never Change<ref name="hughsyme1"/> Art direction and design
1997 Megadeth Cryptic Writings Art Direction, design and illustrations
1997 Rush Retrospective I<ref name="autogenerated3">[15] Template:Webarchive</ref> Art direction and design
1997 Rush Retrospective II<ref name="autogenerated3"/> Art direction, design and cover painting
1997 Whitesnake Restless Heart<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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<ref name="hughsyme1"/> Art direction and design
1998 Rush Different Stages<ref>[16] Template:Webarchive</ref> 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?<ref name="hughsyme1"/> 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<ref>[17] Template:Webarchive</ref> 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<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Cover art
2003 Rush Rush in Rio<ref>[18] Template:Webarchive</ref> Art direction, illustrations and design
2003 Rush The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974–1987<ref>[19] Template:Webarchive</ref> 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)<ref>[20] Template:Webarchive</ref> 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<ref>[21] Template:Webarchive</ref> 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<ref>[22] Template:Webarchive</ref> 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<ref>[23] Template:Webarchive</ref> 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<ref>[24] Template:Webarchive</ref> Art direction and design
2009 Rush Grace Under Pressure Tour Art direction and design
2009 Dream Theater Black Clouds & Silver Linings<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

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<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

art direction, design, illustrations
2014 Dream Theater Breaking the Fourth Wall Cover art
2017 Rush A Farewell To Kings-40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Art Direction and design
2018 Rush Hemispheres-40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Art Direction and design
2018 Alien Country Like My Life Depends on It Template:Webarchive Art Director, artwork and design
2019 Dream Theater Distance Over Time Cover art
2020 Rush Permanent Waves-40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Art Direction and design
2020 Gustavo Carmo (feat. Brian Tichy, Rudy Sarzo & Derek Sherinian) On and Off Cover art
2020 Wandering X Carved in Stone Cover art
2020 Dream Theater Distant Memories - Live in London Cover art
2021 Rivers & Rust "What a Waste" Cover art
2021 Wandering X Life Expectancy Cover art
2021 Joe Bonamassa Time Clocks Cover art
2021 Carrie Newcomer Until Now Cover art
2021 Fairy Tale That Is The Question Cover art
2021 Dream Theater A View from the Top of the World Cover art
2021 Benjamin Croft Far & Distant Things Cover art
2022 Talas 1985 Cover art
2022 Rush Moving Pictures (40th Anniversary) Art Direction and design
2022 TRIBUTES Songs for Neil Vol. 3 Cover art
2022 Brother Dynamite If We Dare Cover art
2022 Dane Clark Memory Mile Cover art
2022 A-Z A-Z Cover art
2022 SOMA Headed for the Zeros Cover art
2022 Hilario Durán and David Virelles Front Street Duets Cover art
2023 Arch Echo Final Pitch Artwork, Illustration, Design
2023 Rush Signals (40th Anniversary) Artwork, Illustration, Design
2024 Orion The Lightbringers Art direction, Design
2024 Robert Jon & the Wreck Red Moon Rising Art direction, Design
2024 Black Country Communion V Art direction, Illustration, Design
2025 Dane Clark Guru's, Hitmen & Heaven Art direction, Illustration, Design
2025 Dream Theater Parasomnia Cover art, album design

DiscographyEdit

Syme has contributed as a musician with Ian Thomas Band,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rush and Tiles.

with Ian Thomas Band

  • Delights - piano, Fender Rhodes, Mellotron and background vocals
  • Calabash - keyboards, background vocals and creative companionship and album cover artwork
  • Still Here - keyboards and background vocals (co-arrangement on "I Really Love You" and "Tinkerbell")
  • Glider - keyboards and all songs arranged with Ian Thomas
  • The Runner - keyboards and background vocals

with Rush

with Tiles

  • Window Dressing - keyboards on "Slippers in the Snow"
  • Fly Paper - keyboards on "Crowded Emptiness" and solo piano on "Passing Notes"

with Alice in Chains

  • 2112 - 40th Anniversary Deluxe Reissue - Mellotron, string arrangement, woodwinds, and boy's choir on Geddy Lee's re-released song "Tears"

with Jim McCarty

  • Walking in the Wild Land - Piano, nylon and steel string acoustic guitar, synths, string arrangements, boy's choir, Mellotron on "Changing Times", "Dancing Leaves" and "So Many Questions". James Stanley McCarty (born 25 July 1943) is an English musician, best known as the drummer for the Yardbirds and Renaissance.

AwardsEdit

Juno Awards: 5 wins and 18 nominations.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Navbox musical artist

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