There are countless things that don’t go together. A few might include pizza and weight loss; meditation and mosh pits; or crowded elevators and serious stomach issues. The same could be said for heavy metal music and stamp collecting.
Not long ago, the combination of mainstream classic rock ‘n roll and philately was considered an abomination. After all, collecting stamps has always been considered a sedentary or isolated pastime. Rock, on the other hand, is usually emotional and highly charged. Contradictory as they appear, a few years ago the ice began to thaw....
I’d say it started in 1993. Prior to that, notable musicians the likes of Cole Porter and Duke Ellington were the most daring the USPS had showcased on stamps. Then, in 1993, the Postal Service relented and issued the much-heralded Elvis Presley stamp. Fans went crazy. It would soon become the most popular commemorative stamp ever issued with a printing of 500 million.Recognizing they were on to something big, the USPS followed with stamps honoring rockers Bill Haley; Richie Valens; Buddy Holly and Clyde McPhatter. As time went on, and antiquated conceptions about “evil” rock music faded, more controversial performers the likes of Janis Joplin, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and even the 1969 Woodstock music festival appeared on postage.
This groundswell of interest for the topical rock stamps wasn’t lost on postal services “across the pond.” In England – home of the British Invasion – the Royal Mail went a step further by issuing stamps saluting contemporary rock groups. Perhaps in an attempt to lure younger audiences to stamps and collecting, the Royal Mail printed stamps honoring meteoric groups the likes of The Beatles; Queen; The Rolling Stones; and Pink Floyd. Stamps from other smaller countries added to the extensive lineup of rock groups with a philatelic connection.
Unlike the single stamp issues in the US, the British rock music releases are frequently entire series of stamps featuring full-color performance photographs and album cover art. Also different is the fact that many of the performers on the British stamps are still alive. In the US, one must be dead to be so honored.
An aspect formerly applicable to rock stamps both domestic and abroad has been the fact they only commemorated classic rock acts such as The Beatles. That style of rock music is usually considered of greatest appeal to baby boomers and “Gen X.” This month, thanks to a new series of stamps just being released, that target audience will diametrically change with the introduction of serious heavy metal to the philatelic lineup.
Great Britain has now released 12 stamps saluting the hard rock band Iron Maiden. Initially formed in England in the mid-1970s, Iron Maiden has been considered one of the earliest, most successful and longest lasting heavy metal bands of all time.
The new stamps come in two forms – a sheet of eight showing members of the band performing on-stage live at various venues around the world; and a second mini-sheet of four stamps featuring the illustrated image of “Eddie,” the band’s iconic mascot that looks like a cross between a skeleton and a zombie (all with the familiar postal silhouette of Queen Elizabeth II looking on).
The band’s loyal fan base often turns out at airports when the band arrives – an event unto itself. You see, lead singer Bruce Dickinson is also a licensed commercial airline pilot. Not just small private planes but jumbo jets, including the massive Boeing 747 which the band uses for their world tours. It is adorned with the band’s logo and a huge image of mascot “Eddie.” In fact, the jet is named, “Ed Force One.” When that jet arrives in each city on their concert tours, fans are there in droves to watch it land.
Last year, the 747 piloted by Dickinson, flew the band, dressed in their familiar black leather and metal studs, to performances before two million fans in six continents and 39 countries. While their songs may not be the type people casually hum or whistle, given their decades of success, Iron Maiden is clearly a band for the ages and will now draw a curious new fan base to stamp collecting.
The stamps in collectible sets, sheets, frames and packets are now available from the Royal Mail. To purchase, or for more information, log onto: www.RoyalMail.com/IronMaiden.
For more collecting information and advice, log onto www.PRexford.com.