Royal Mail Issues 12 Iron Maiden Stamps After Hall of Fame Snub

The Royal Mail has released a set of 12 postage stamps dedicated to the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, marking the fifth time the British postal service has honored a musical group, following The Beatles (2007), Pink Floyd (2016), Queen (2020), and The Rolling Stones (2022). The stamps, approved by Queen Elizabeth II before her death, feature live performance photos from the 1980s to 2018 and include all current band members: singer Bruce Dickinson, guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers, drummer Nicko McBrain, and bassist Steve Harris. The band's mascot Eddie also appears, including as a samurai warrior from their latest album Senjutsu (2021). Iron Maiden, founded in East London in the mid-1970s by Steve Harris, has sold over 100 million records, performed nearly 2,500 shows in 64 countries, and released 17 studio albums. Despite their global success, they have been excluded from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Band manager Rod Smallwood noted the irony of royal approval while the Hall of Fame snubs them. The stamps are available on the Royal Mail website. Iron Maiden will tour in 2023 with The Future Past tour, including a headlining slot at The Return Of The Gods festival in Milan on July 15, 2023.