Paul Raymond Gregory – Heavy Metal’s Lord Of the Rings

Paul Raymond Gregory, best known for his paintings based on his vision of the mythical world of JRR Tolkien’s book “The Lord of the Rings”, has painted nearly 40 Tolkien pieces. Over his career he has had several major exhibits in Europe. In addition, Gregory has painted the cover art for a series of books by fantasy novelist, Cecilia Dart-Thornton. Gregory is also a co-founder of Bloodstock Open Air Heavy Metal festival.
Gregory did his first album cover in 1984 when he met the heavy metal band Saxon, and was commissioned to paint the artwork for the album Crusader. He has done eleven album covers for Saxon since then. Gregory has done album covers for many other well-known rock bands including: Uriah Heep, Blind Guardian, Dio, Molly Hatchet, Beholder, The Company of Snakes, Freedom Call, and Battalion. In total Gregory has done over 30 album covers. Paul Raymond Gregory, the artist who draw Heep’s “Spellbinder” cover, Blind Guardian’s “Night at the Opera” cover and The Company of Snakes “Here They Go Again”

Saxon – Crusader – album cover by Paul Raymond Gregory

“Sometimes a band has a relationship with an artist that works really well, a bit like producers, and I think some of Paul’s best album covers have been for us. The songs we write are perfect for him.” Biff Byford from the band Saxon.
Your album is only complete when it’s in the right cover. Music and artwork go hand in hand together.” Mick Box from the band Uriah Heep.
Bobby Ingram from the band Molly Hatchet “But Paul McGregory out of Studio 54 in London, England has been our artist for the last 10 years and is absolutely fantastic. He gets involved in the music, he gets involved with the concept of the album. It’s not just an album cover and we stick a CD in it, it’s not that at all. The music, the songs, the feeling, the cover are all tied together”.