On 12 January 2023, the Royal Mail validated 12 special postage stamps in honour of one of the most legendary rock bands of all time, Iron Maiden. Iron Maiden become only the fifth music group to be featured in a special stamp issue – following The Beatles in 2007, Pink Floyd in 2016, Queen in 2020 and the Rolling Stones in 2022.Founded in East London in the mid-1970s by songwriter and bassist Steve Harris, Iron Maiden's decade-long career has made them one of the most respected and influential bands of all time. With over 100 million records sold, almost 2,500 live performances in 64 countries, and 17 studio albums – including their latest, Senjutsu, released in 2021 – Iron Maiden have remained fearlessly creative and dedicated to their legions of fans for almost half a century.
Iron Maiden founder and bassist Steve Harris commented: “We were all absolutely blown away – in a good way! – when we first heard about the commemorative project and we were also almost speechless when we first saw the stamps. They look great and I think they really capture the essence and energy of Maiden. We are all very proud that Royal Mail have chosen to honour the band’s legacy in this way and we know our fans will feel the same way.”
Iron Maiden's manager, Rod Smallwood, added: "As a band who have never played to a foreign standard for over 40 years, it's great to see them honoured in their homeland in this way. We're proud to show how these six band members are still attracting more and more fans every year with their music and legendary shows - which I think these stamps really capture. It's also fantastic that Eddie was also honoured - it's incredible to think that Her Majesty, may she rest in peace, saw them and gave them her iconic silhouette."
David Gold, Director of External Relations and Policy, Royal Mail, said: “Few bands in the history of rock music can be called true rock legends – but Iron Maiden are just that – and more. With legions of devoted fans of all ages and from every corner of the globe, they not only changed the way rock music sounds, they changed the way it looks. We fully expect their fans to love these brands as much as we do.”
The core set of stamps celebrates Iron Maiden's live performances, featuring a selection of photos from their world tours over the years, both international and at home - and features all of the current band members.
The images range from the 1980s to 2018 and show:
- Steve Harris in Vancouver, June 2010
- Bruce Dickinson at Hammersmith, Odeon, London, May 1983.
- Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Steve Harris in Pamplona, September 1988.
- Nico McBrain in Quito, March 2009.
- Dave Murray, Bruce Dickinson and Yannick Gers in Rio de Janeiro, January 2001.
- Adrian Smith and Steve Harris in Helsinki, May 2018.
- Iron Maiden at Twickenham Stadium, London, July 2008.
- Bruce Dickinson, sword fight with Eddie in Birmingham, August 2018
- Bruce Dickinson at Hammersmith, Odeon, London, May 1983.
- Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Steve Harris in Pamplona, September 1988.
- Nico McBrain in Quito, March 2009.
- Dave Murray, Bruce Dickinson and Yannick Gers in Rio de Janeiro, January 2001.
- Adrian Smith and Steve Harris in Helsinki, May 2018.
- Iron Maiden at Twickenham Stadium, London, July 2008.
- Bruce Dickinson, sword fight with Eddie in Birmingham, August 2018
Another four stamps pay homage to the band's longtime mascot and pop culture icon, Eddie, with his own miniature sheet. The stamps feature four of Eddie's most famous works, including the latest addition, featuring Eddie as a samurai warrior from the recent album Senjutsu.
