The Freddie Mercury stamp controversy of 1999 has reared its ugly head again. Dare I say it, FEEG with his love of all things HD has done an Enoch: he was right. Advances in science has produced new evidence that makes the original outrage a picnic by the Serpentine. Magnification techniques have revealed all.
Let me fill you in with all the dramatic events concerning the history of the first stamp scandal. Before the millennium the Royal Mail sought to introduce new stamps commemorating some of the top 100 Greatest Britons of the last 1000 years. Naturally, the lead singer of Queen was the first person chosen. Naturally. A live photograph of Freddie in his pomp bringing ballet to the masses was a delight for philatelists everywhere. The Mercury stamp was one of those that you didn’t want to lick. The problem was in the small print. Photographic print that is.
Apart from living royals (the Kingly Freddie departed in 1991) guidelines stated that only deceased mortals could be engraved on the hallmark. The problem with the print was that in the background there was a drum kit with a miniscule Roger Taylor (the Princely drummer who still breathes air) beating the skins. Traditionalists took a hop, skip and a jump and demanded the high jump for someone. Roger, for his part, asked Salman Rushdie if he could move in with him as he feared a fatwa from puritan purists. The storm eventually quelled, Roger survived and normalcy resumed. Then HD magnifying cast its beady eyes on the stamp.
Anyone familiar with the live magic of Queen will know that each individual member had their own personal assistant or roadie if you like. Roger’s was a likeable gentleman by the name of Crystal Taylor, no relation. He is always to be found skulking about the drums handing Roger towels and replacing drumsticks. Last week using a powerful screen magnifier, a scientist has confirmed the presence of Crystal in the photograph. Kneeling by the snare drum he has been snared drinking a can of lager. Good old Crystal. It’s only Rock n’ Roll.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Happy to oblige. TR 🙂
BTW, anyone been watching the Olympic Opening Ceremony. As far as I am concerned, it is cobblers so far
Hi FEEG,
Loving it so far, Don’t agree with a lot of the historical interpretation but it is, undeniably, spectacular.
I am somewhat nonplussed as to what the rest of the World is making of it. Mind, I don’t give a toss about that. I’m getting most of the cultural references and am really enjoying its Britishness.
Too much ‘Queen’, But then, in my opinion, there is usually too much ‘Queen’ as I trail through life.
Sorry, JW, That’s just my personal taste and I might be wrong.
On the other hand, nothing like enough ‘Kinks’.
Sorry JM. Still don’t like it! If that really represents GB2012, I want to emigrate!
And there can never be enough Queen, although I share your enthusiasm for the Kinks.
Hi FEEG, I’m almost convinced to buy a Blu-ray. I’ll keep you posted. 🙂
JM, your last comment had a hint of sadness in it, my friend. It’s as if the whole Olympic world is weighing heavily on your shoulders as the other authors show disinterest. I’m not an Olympic watcher either though I will try and post a poem for you. Try to keep your spirits up. It’s not as if you’re facing Brechin City on Sunday. Now that’s an Atlas challenge.
A funny story from four years ago done the rounds in my work. One of the guys was sorry he missed the 100 metres final. Someone told him it would be repeated on the TV at night. He said, jokingly, do you think they’ll show the whole race or just the highlights?
A stamp with her majesty and Freddie Mercury. Well, the British always did like their queens, why not put two on one stamp?
As for the Olympics… I’m already thoroughly disgusted. That Romney is attacked for being, frankly, correct and fair in his assertions is a bit much. The British response makes me wonder what has happened to traditional British humour and finesse. It sounds too much now like insecure school-children responding to helpful criticism.
A thousand and one apologies, FEEG. The 1999 stamp controversy over Roger’s inclusion is true, the Crystal story (Crystal is a real person, BTW) is total fabrication. Sorry. I can tell you I wrote a similar blog on a Queen website not long ago. The natives were taken in by the con until one of them demanded a link. The old “cite your sources” chestnut. I couldn’t provide one. The Royalists then tore me apart and some have still refused to speak to me. I’m sure that won’t be the case with us. Don’t forget that I have a connection with your father-in-law. Rangers are- hold on a minute the TV’s packing up again. BANG. There, fixed it.
I must get one of those HD jobs. 🙂
And you are Enoch right, you can’t have enough Queen.
Chris, I couldn’t agree more, good grief after the criticisms we had back in 2009/10 about our ability to hold the world cup (a lot from the British press I might add) this was a storm in a
teacupOlympic size swimming pool.Al this Brit stiff upper lip / turn the other cheek talk is just that, talk! They’re actually quite a touchy bunch!
Howzit TR, just read some of the ‘Crystal’s tales’ from your linky thing, good stuff 🙂
Sourite: perhaps, being German, I am not so sensitive or touchy. In fact, for a German NOT to be criticised is almost too much to bear. How on earth are we to know how well we are following our umpteen regulations without frequent intervention should we stray more than 1.17 degrees from protocol?
I would advise caution as the greater of the chances is that, come January 2013, the same morons who mocked Romney today will have to make due with a President Romney.
What you guys hate most is that you’re not British. 🙂
Really 🙂 🙂 🙂
You’ll rarely see me use the word hate (crikey, I rarely ever think it, never mind use it) except when it comes to that certain rugby team up Durban way 😉
“Hate” might not be the correct word, though it would be preferable to discuss Winnie Churchill and
the British Empire than Addie Hitler and Nazi military prowess.