Veteran rockers Queen, who have sold more than 300 million records, become the third music group to have a dedicated stamp issue after the Beatles in 2007 and Pink Floyd in 2016.
Now commemorating the 50th anniversary of their formation, Queen will be celebrated in a set of 13 stamps featuring artwork from their most popular album covers and images from their most extravagant live performances.
Among them are iconic album covers like Queen II, A Night At The Opera, Greatest Hits, The Works, as well as Innuendo, which notably marked the band's last album to be released during frontman Freddie Mercury's lifetime. Completing the set are individual stamps of each of Queen's four members on stage, including Freddie Mercury at Wembley Stadium during the band's 1986 Magic Tour, and bassist John Deacon at Hammersmith Odeon during 1975's A Night At The Opera tour. (Check out image gallery below).
The centrepiece of the collection is a black-and-white picture of Queen taken by British photographer Johnny Dewe Mathews taken during the group's first-ever studio photoshoot in a Primrose Hill studio.
"It's hard to put into words what I feel when looking at these beautiful stamps. Since we four precocious boys started out on our quest 50 years ago, our lives have been devoted to making our impossible dream come true. Sometimes it's strange to wake up and realise the position in which we are now held – we have become a national institution! And nothing brings this home more than this incredible tribute from Royal Mail," guitarist Brian May said in a statement.
"With their truly original, theatrical sound and effortless ability to mix musical styles, Queen are rock royalty. We pay tribute to one of the most loved bands of all time with these stunning stamps," Philip Parker, Head of Stamp Strategy at Royal Mail, added in a statement. The full set of 13 stamps will go on general sale for £16 (around RM85) beginning July 8, with pre-orders already available in Queen's online store and in the Royal Mail's website. – AFPRelaxnews
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
Queen get its own stamps
The centrepiece of the collection is a black-and-white picture of Queen taken by British photographer Johnny Dewe Mathews taken during the group's first-ever studio photoshoot in a Primrose Hill studio.
There are individuals stamps featuring Queen's members on stage, such as this one of Freddie Mercury at Wembley Stadium during the band's 1986 Magic Tour.
Bassist John Deacon at the Hammersmith Odeon during 1975's A Night At The Opera tour.
Queen drummer Roger Taylor in a 1976 show at Hyde Park.
One of the stamps depicting the album cover for 'Queen II'.
One of the stamps depicting the album cover for 'Greatest Hits'.
One of the stamps depicting the album cover for 'A Night At The Opera'.
One of the stamps features the cover for 'Innuendo', which notably marked the band's last album to be released during frontman Freddie Mercury's lifetime.
One of the stamps depicting the album cover for 'Sheer Heart Attack'.
One of the stamps depicting the album cover for 'The Game'
One of the stamps depicting the album cover for 'The Works'.
One of the stamps depicting the album cover for 'News Of The World'.
