How long does it take to appear on a stamp? For four guys, it’s taken 60 years. That’s how long ago it was when two teenagers spotted each other on a railway platform in Kent, England. Having attended the same primary school in Dartford, Keith and Mick each recognized the other. Keith carried a guitar. Like so many others of the day, the two decided to form a band. They found another guitarist named Brian and a drummer named Charlie. The group landed a few gigs around town....
In 1962, the boys played London’s Marquee Club. Afterward, during an interview for a local magazine they were asked the name of their band. Brian realized they didn’t have one. On an album laying nearby by blues musician Muddy Waters he saw one of the tracks was, “Rollin’ Stone Blues.” He blurted out the name, The Rolling Stones. Fate and a good amount of talent took over.
Last year, in 2021, after six decades and a few personnel changes, the Rolling Stones featuring Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood rolled out their “No Filter” worldwide tour. Original drummer and iconic bandmate Charlie Watts had died unexpectedly of unknown causes at age 80. On the tour, massive images of Watts were projected on huge screens at all performances.
Since 1962, the name Rolling Stones has been synonymous with rock ‘n roll. In 1965, Bob Dylan had his massive hit, “Like A Rolling Stone.” Ironically, Dylan’s song had no connection to the band.
As the Stones were making hits, so too were four lads from Liverpool named The Beatles. For many young girls there was a clear rivalry between the two bands. Half of them loved the clean-cut “Fab Four” Liverpool boys. The other half gravitated to the “bad boys” – the Stones. The Beatles broke up just over 50 years ago in 1970. The Stones kept going.
Over the years there have been a few others band mates. Brian Jones, the original band-naming member, left in 1969 for personal reasons and drug use. He died later that year. Bassist Bill Wyman left the band in 1993 because of the constant pressure of performing. So too for guitarist Mick Taylor.
Beginning next month, “Sir Mick” (Jagger was knighted in 2002) and the surviving Rolling Stones will officially be honored on a series of 12 British postage stamps. Every stamp released in the United Kingdom is required to have an image or silhouette of the Queen. Now, Jagger, Richards, Wood and Watts will be joining her in multiple color photos.
An image featured on one of the 85-pence stamps is an early performance from 1969 in London’s Hyde Park in black-and-white. Others show Wood, Jagger, Watts and Richards performing in New Jersey 2019; Keith Richards in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1995; and Wood/ Richards in Tokyo,1995.
Another strip of four stamps denominated £1.70 for international mail rates shows Jagger and Richards sharing a mic in 1972; Wood from a 2014 concert in Norway; and a black-and-white photo of the group from 1976 at Hertfordshire, England. A fourth stamp features a color image of Watts behind his drums from a 2017 concert in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Also being issued is a special souvenir sheet with two first-class stamps with posed images of the band. Two more £1.70 stamps showcase several tour posters. Other concert posters are printed in the selvage of the souvenir sheet.
In addition to the 12 stamps, the Royal Mail postal tribute to the Stones also includes a 24-page booklet with printed information and illustrations. An extra pane of stamps contains eight Queen Elizabeth definitive stamps with a label image from the band’s Voodoo Lounge album.
According to the Royal Mail, the Rolling Stones are just the fourth rock group to be honored with a dedicated stamp issue. The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Queen were featured in 2007, 2016 and 2020 respectively.
While the stamps are sure to be sought out by rock fans, the ultimate collectible would be the stamps on First Day of Issue envelopes signed by members of the band. Of course, that won’t be easy. And, you can’t always get what you want. But, if you try some time, you just might find, you get what you need. Sorry. I couldn’t resist.
For more information on the stamps, check out www.RoyalMail.com.
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