Queen – not that one – to appear on postage stamps

No, not that one – the rock band Queen are to feature on a series of UK postage stamps over the summer.

They become only the third band to be honoured by Royal Mail, following the Beatles in 2007 and Pink Floyd in 2016.

Guitarist Brian May said: “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.” Drummer Roger Taylor said: “We must be really part of the furniture now.”

The 13 stamp designs, going on sale from 9 July, feature a posed studio shot of the group, plus four live images of each of May, Taylor, frontman Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon, and album covers of Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, A Night at the Opera, News of the World, The Game, Greatest Hits, The Works, and Innuendo.

In other pedestrian rock news, AC/DC have announced the release of four official jigsaw puzzles depicting classic album covers.