Birmingham's Duran Duran have received a major honour with the release of a new Royal Mail stamp collection that traces their rise from the city's club circuit, including the legendary Rum Runner, to global stardom. The band, still touring after nearly five decades, described the recognition as a “massive visual validation” of their career.
Band members react to stamp honour
Frontman Simon Le Bon told the Press Association it was a “pinch yourself” moment. “Having stamps is a bit far out. Nobody would have anticipated this at any time,” he said. “For so many years, we were struggling against the negativity. We’re not a flash in the pan, and the stamps really vindicate us. It’s big stuff. It’s a massive visual validation of the band and its history.”
The 67-year-old singer, who joined the group in 1980, added: “When you see those album covers all lined up, all eight of them, you look at it say, ‘we’ve done a lot of work’. And we’ve done it together – we’ve stayed together – and it reminds us of that. I feel so happy and fortunate to be part of all that.”
Stamps chart five decades of music
The collection features album covers spanning records such as Duran Duran, Rio, Seven And The Raged Tiger, Notorious, Duran Duran (The Wedding Album), Astronaut, Paper Gods and Future Past. It also includes a miniature sheet centred around their tour posters from the 1980s through to the 2020s, acting as a timeline of their live performance history.
Le Bon said the choice of album covers was deliberate. “I think it was great that we picked the album covers rather than beauty shots or shots of us, because the legacy is the music,” he explained. “I think the fans will be really proud.”
Band's Birmingham origins and legacy
The group was founded in 1978 and achieved two UK number one singles and one chart-topping album, with hits including Rio, Hungry Like The Wolf and Ordinary World. The current line-up consists of Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, bassist John Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor.
Rhodes, a founding member, called the stamps “mini masterpieces”. He told PA: “From the moment I was born I was looking at Royal Mail stamps. I was excited when letters arrived at home through the letterbox. I still am – so to be a little part of that is magical, and just the greatest honour.”
Fellow founder John Taylor described the collaboration as “a Duran Duran legacy project”, while Roger Taylor said it makes the band feel like it is “part of the cultural furniture” in the country. “The band is almost set in stone now. Once you start getting things like this, there’s an immortality,” Roger added.
Ninth band to feature in stamp series
Duran Duran are the ninth band to appear in a Royal Mail stamp issue, joining The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, Spice Girls, The Who and AC/DC. The release coincides with the 45th anniversary of their debut album Duran Duran and its breakthrough single Planet Earth, which peaked at number 12 on the UK singles chart.
The stamps and a range of collectable products are available to pre-order from September 10 and go on general sale from September 17.
