The Women Victims [...]
Jennifer Sky Ehrinn Cummings Teri Hatcher Minka Kelly Sarah Michelle Gellar
Jennifer Sky Ehrinn Cummings Teri Hatcher Minka Kelly Sarah Michelle Gellar
Charli Baltimore Katharine McPhee Kelly Hu Amerie Tamie Sheffield
Nicole Scherzinger Marla Sokoloff Virginie Ledoyen Monica Keena Aubrey O\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'Day
Michelle Obama Kelly Clarkson Angelina Jolie Melissa Rycroft Freida Pinto
Cinthia Moura Katy Perry Rebecca Mader Melania Trump Tricia Vessey
Drea de Matteo Natassia Malthe Gina Philips Jennifer Garner Dania Ramirez
Emma Watson Hilary Swank Minki van der Westhuizen Tara Reed Paula Garcés
Any good actor will do what it takes for the role they?ve landed, and Natalie Portman recently opened up about her weight loss for her new film ?Black Swan.?
According to Us Magazine, the petite actress underwent extreme ballet, cross-training and swimming a year before shooting began.
Of losing 20 lbs, the ?Garden State? gal told the mag, "I think it was just the physicality of it all that was the most extreme. I mean, I had never gotten that much training - to be doing five-to-eight hours a day of [it] was really a challenge."
"I think the most important thing is coming to work as prepared as you can be every day and working as hard as you can every day," she added. "If you do that, you can always ensure that you have an amazing experience."
FSU Cowgirls Shanna Moakler Laetitia Casta Tara Reid Michelle Rodriguez
Mia Kirshner Jessica White Scarlett Johansson Julia Stiles Gabrielle Union
Melissa Rycroft Freida Pinto Genelle Frenoy Claudette Ortiz Natasha Bedingfield
Kelly Hu Amerie Tamie Sheffield Maria Sharapova Whitney Able
Alicia Witt Natalie Imbruglia Sarah Gellman Kasey Chambers Denise Richards
Jennifer Garner Dania Ramirez Brittany Daniel Bar Refaeli Jennifer O\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'Dell
Charisma Carpenter Lokelani McMichael Ali Campoverdi Amanda Swisten Eva Green
'If time allows, there will definitely be new music,' Robert DeLeo adds of STP's future.
By Chris Harris
Stone Temple Pilots' Robert DeLeo and Scott Weiland
Photo: Charley Gallay/ Getty Images
There are a number of reasons why Stone Temple Pilots decided to reunite after nearly five years apart — some are obvious, and others, not so much.
Of course, the financial windfall of reviving the grunge stalwarts for an extensive U.S. tour was too good to pass up, and bassist Robert DeLeo readily admits as much. And then there are the fans, the ones who had been with STP since the very beginning as well as those who discovered the band only after it first split back in 2003 and who, woefully, have yet to catch the Pilots live.
On a more personal level, though, Stone Temple Pilots' resurrection was purely selfish, and very much an anticipatory (not to mention optimistic) move on the band's part: If, after the months and months of rumors and denials, there ever is a full-on Led Zeppelin reunion tour, STP wanted to be ready to offer their services as an opening act.
"Believe me, that was one of the reasons," laughed DeLeo. "We thought, 'We should get together now, in case Zeppelin does tour.' I'm serious, man. That would be one hell of a bill: STP and Led Zeppelin. I mean, we could play a doghouse, out in the middle of the ocean, and if I got to play with Zeppelin, that would be a highlight of my life."
Yes, DeLeo — and the rest of the band — had several reservations about raising STP from the dead — a feat DeLeo jokingly referred to as "Mission Impossible." For the band's members, the idea of regrouping was terrifying at first, but with time, the boys settled their differences and tried to think positive.
"For me, it was about putting down some of the things that I was used to getting bitten by," explained the bassist — who, with guitar-playing brother Dean DeLeo, has been collaborating with Peter Frampton on material for his next LP. "After you get bitten, it's hard to go back. I wanted to go into this with an open frame of mind and a positive attitude and just have fun with it. We should have fun with it, which God knows we didn't always have with our career when we were younger. If that's all I can say, and that's what I can get out of this reunion, great.
"I think I speak for all of us when I say there's a lot of unfinished business that we didn't get around to the first go," he continued. "Enough time has gone by, and it feels really good to be back. I don't really want to put too much thought into how it feels — I'm just kind of going with it and keeping a good positive attitude about it. I just needed to get over the things that we all needed to get over, and that's been working so far. If everyone shows up and does this thing, I think it's going to be really amazing."
DeLeo claims that during recent rehearsals, STP were "sounding as good as ever," and he credits sobriety as part of the reason the band's in tip-top shape.
"My brother's going on four years of sobriety," he said. "We have a lot more clarity in the band now, and I think with clarity comes appreciation. I saw that the other night, when we played [a secret gig in Los Angeles]. I saw it in my eyes, and in the eyes of the rest of the band. There's a lot more rock in this band now."
As for an STP record, DeLeo is not 100 percent sure that's going to happen. The goal for STP over the next few weeks, he said, is to reacquaint themselves with their songbook and prepare for their return to the road. Once the band is back in that mindset, the bassist said new STP material is very possible.
"I've always got stuff written, and there's always a long list of songs that are always there — it's a matter of timing," DeLeo said. "If time allows, there will definitely be new music. I think it would be silly not to release new music. I'd like to believe we still have a writing relationship, but the first step is getting reacquainted with what we know."
While STP were on hiatus, frontman Scott Weiland teamed up with Velvet Revolver, and the DeLeo brothers joined forces with Filter's Richard Patrick for Army of Anyone — who are now on hiatus after releasing a poorly received self-titled LP. Does DeLeo foresee an AOA reunion somewhere down the line?
"You never know," he said. "It's just like STP — I didn't know if I was going to return. Whether we get back together and do anything, I think we made a great record, bottom line. That's all that matters to me. If we make another one, I want to make sure it's great, and that applies to STP and anything I do. But I was pretty heartbroken over [the feeble response to AOA's album]."
Related Photos Related ArtistsJennifer Sky Ehrinn Cummings Teri Hatcher Minka Kelly Sarah Michelle Gellar
Samantha Morton Mia Kirshner Jessica White Scarlett Johansson Julia Stiles
A pesar de lo dicho ayer, Peter Mensch, manager del guitarrista Jimmy Page, se retractó totalmente en eso que la banda buscaría un reemplazo al ultragenial Robert Plant para seguir rockeando y toureándola por el mundo tras su show de 2007 en el O2 Arena de Londres por el poder de la música más sexual de la historia. No habrá más Led Zeppelin, no hay planes de que lo haya.
Mensch comentó: "Led Zeppelin se acabó. Si no los vieron en el 2007, se los perdieron. Probaron reemplazantes a Robert Plant, pero nada funcionó. Se acabó. No hay planes para continuar. Francamente, ojalá todos dejaran de hablar al respecto."
Los fans no están nada contentos, especialmente los británicos, considerando los precios delirantes de las entradas del show reunión.
¿Y a ti? ¿Qué te parece todo esto?
Related ArtistsAshley Greene Marika Dominczyk Sarah Polley Sunny Mabrey Willa Ford
Elisabeth Röhm Lauren German Connie Nielsen Cameron Richardson Bianca Kajlich
Krista Allen Abbie Cornish Amy Smart Noureen DeWulf Emmy Rossum
Melania Trump Tricia Vessey Katie Cassidy Ciara Amber Brkich
Jenny McCarthy Reese Witherspoon Chyler Leigh Susan Ward Lisa Marie
Laura Harring Kim Kardashian Elisha Cuthbert Samantha Mathis Erica Leerhsen
Maria Bello Tina Fey Michael Michele Nicole Richie Autumn Reeser
Minki van der Westhuizen Tara Reed Paula Garcés Kate Hudson Paz Vega
Adrianne Curry Kristanna Loken Diora Baird Blake Lively Shiri Appleby
Katie Cassidy Ciara Amber Brkich Avril Lavigne Ana Paula Lemes
Leeann Tweeden America Ferrera Julie Berry Samaire Armstrong Christina Ricci
Karolína Kurková Julie Benz Janet Jackson Katie Holmes Laura Prepon
Zooey Deschanel Robin Tunney Kat Von D The Avatars of Second Life Jodi Lyn O\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'Keefe
Cinthia Moura Katy Perry Rebecca Mader Melania Trump Tricia Vessey
Magdalena Wróbel Amy Cobb Trista Rehn January Jones Tricia Helfer
'I have not been approached to fill in for Robert Plant on the Zeppelin tour, but that isn't to say I won't be,' singer says.
By Chris Harris
Former Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell has spoken out for the first time about rumors that he's been asked to fill in for Robert Plant on a proposed Led Zeppelin reunion tour. The trek would feature original guitarist Jimmy Page, original bassist John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham taking over on drums for his late father, John Bonham.
Cornell has been mentioned — along with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, White Stripes mastermind Jack White and Alter Bridge's Myles Kennedy — as a potential Plant fill-in. Plant has already said that he wouldn't take part in the tour.
"I have not been approached so far to fill in for Robert Plant on the upcoming Zeppelin tour, but that isn't to say I won't be," Cornell told MTV News. "I've heard that from about 200 people now, and it might be one of those situations where it's just an online rumor or it might be true. But if you see anyone from Led Zeppelin around, let me know. I think I should actually fill in for Jimmy Page on the Robert Plant/ Alison Krauss tour."
Cornell's denial comes just a day after Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford confirmed reports that frontman Steven Tyler recently met with Zeppelin for an impromptu jam session. "They did it for fun," Whitford said during an appearance on the syndicated show "Todd N Tyler Radio Empire." "I actually think Jimmy wanted Steven to come over and play a little bit because I think he was trying to light a fire under Robert."
Rumors of a Zeppelin reunion tour have abounded since the iconic band played a single reunion set last year at London's O2 Arena. Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider added fuel to the fire last month when he revealed that the group was thinking of touring, with or without Plant.
According to Snider, the rest of the band told Plant, " 'We're all rehearsed, we're ready to go. Here's a gazillion dollars on the table. If you don't do it, we're going out with this kid [Myles Kennedy].' "
"And he can sing the sh-- out of Zeppelin," Snider added. "They're going to hope that Robert, at the last minute, will go, 'OK,' and step in."
In a recent interview, Jones told BBC Radio Devon that a new singer was being sought to take over for Plant. "We are trying out a couple of singers," he said. "We want to do it. It's sounding great, and we want to get on and get out there."
But Jones insists that he, Page and Bonham aren't interested in finding a Plant clone. "It's got to be right," he said. "There's no point in just finding another Robert. You could get that out of a tribute band, but we don't want to be our own tribute band. There would be a record and a tour, but everyone has to be onboard."
Of course, even if Zeppelin were to approach him, Cornell might be too busy to take over vocals for the band. His upcoming Timbaland-produced solo LP, Scream, will be released within the next few months. Cornell told MTV News last month that some of his fans might consider Scream something of a departure, but he doesn't see it that way.
"It makes me happy that there's this perception that I have a group of fans that I'm now sort of throwing a curve at and what their reaction will be," he said. "But I've been in this situation so many times already. When I put out [1999's] Euphoria Morning, my main goal was to create an album that sounded like nothing I'd done in Soundgarden, and I did that. I also had that with Temple of the Dog, where I showed up with songs that weren't necessarily riff-based. And then, of course, the pairing of me and members of Rage Against the Machine had everyone sort of speculating about what that would sound like.
"It feels like I've done this so many times that when it's presented to me as being a departure, I feel that's a misconception," he added. "I feel like that's my theme at this point."
Related ArtistsAlicia Witt Natalie Imbruglia Sarah Gellman Kasey Chambers Denise Richards
Yamila Diaz Cat Power Brooke Burns Rachel Weisz Anna Kournikova
Evangeline Lilly Aaliyah Simone Mütherthies Zoe Saldana Aisha Tyler
Amanda Bynes Giuliana DePandi Radha Mitchell Lorri Bagley Maria Menounos
Whitney Able Jenny McCarthy Reese Witherspoon Chyler Leigh Susan Ward
Daisy Fuentes Carla Gugino Krista Allen Abbie Cornish Amy Smart
Alicia Witt Natalie Imbruglia Sarah Gellman Kasey Chambers Denise Richards
Karen Carreno Kate Walsh Saira Mohan Kate Moss Rosario Dawson
Tyra Banks Melissa Joan Hart Deanna Russo Shakira Summer Glau
Missy Peregrym Rebecca Romijn Gwen Stefani Tessie Santiago Daniella Alonso
Shania Twain Melissa George Amanda Righetti Taryn Manning Rachel Bilson
Charli Baltimore Katharine McPhee Kelly Hu Amerie Tamie Sheffield
'It shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums,' guitarist says.
By Chris Harris
Dimmu Borgir's Silenoz
Photo: Nuclear Blast
On October 14, Dimmu Borgir — who just happen to be Demi Lovato's favorite black-metal band — will release a a three-disc DVD/CD set called "The Invaluable Darkness," the band's first visual offering since 2002's "World Misanthropy." Boasting live footage shot last year, during gigs in Norway, Germany and England, "The Invaluable Darkness" demonstrates the unbridled furor of seeing Dimmu live, guitarist Silenoz said.
"It shows the honest rawness and atmospheric darkness of our concerts," the Norwegian told Metal File last week, after dismissing recent online rumors that his band's next LP would be coming out through Roadrunner Records. "Basically, it shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums. It's just a different side to the band, basically."
Dimmu Borgir began thinking about "The Invaluable Darkness" two years ago, but didn't start capturing footage until last summer, Silenoz explained, adding that the band will use its current stint on the Blackest of the Black Tour — which got underway Thursday night in Miami Beach, Florida, and also features the tour's founder, Danzig, along with Moonspell, Winds of Plague and Skeletonwitch — to promote the DVD. Dimmu Borgir will not, however, use the tour to write material for their next LP.
"It's our first time on Blackest, but Glenn [Danzig] had wanted to bring us out before [on the tour], but we weren't available until now," Silenoz said. "We've done Ozzfest before, but we're looking forward to this tour more. We did the main stage on Ozzfest, playing in f--_ing broad daylight. This tour will let us play in bigger places, but at the same time showcase more of what the band's about, visually. We are going to concentrate on the tour for now. Some years ago, we tried putting [material] together on the road, but once we got home, we listened back to it, and were like, 'What the f--- is this?' So, we just scrapped it all. We find it's so much better to totally focus on one thing at a time, and then, when that's over, you move on to the next [thing]. We don't really feel like we need to rush things, anyway, so we'll just take our time, and it's going to be what it's going to be."
Dimmu Borgir hope to reconvene in late December to begin writing the follow-up to 2007's diabolically titled In Sorte Diaboli. "We have some ideas floating around already, but we haven't arranged any material yet," he said. "We'll start doing that once the touring for this DVD is over." The band's frontman, Shagrath, is also due to marry soon — he's engaged to actor Nicolas Cage's ex-girlfriend, Christina Fulton, so that may have an effect on when Dimmu finish their next album, which Silenoz said could be out this coming spring.
"I'm sure [Shagrath] won't let anything get in the way [of] the band — I think, I hope," the guitarist said. "We don't need a Yoko [Ono] situation."
While Dimmu have been at it going on 15 years now, Silenoz said he doesn't think their forthcoming material will be much of a departure from their previous black-metal offerings.
"And we have always been about more than just that term, 'black metal,' " he said. "Luckily for us, the older you get, the less concerned you get with the categorization and putting labels on your music. Things start getting more and more limitless with us, and we know that we operate within certain frames. But we try not to analyze things too much, because it's just going to be working against you in the end. When we write new stuff, we don't think about what we should write — we just get together, and put material together, and if we like it, we keep it. That's the formula, if we even have a formula."
Dimmu Borgir are definitely getting older — guitarist Galder will be missing Blackest because of a recent addition to his family, and Susperia's Cyrus will be filling in for him; while former Vader drummer Dariusz Brzozowski takes over for Hellhammer, who had to leave the band in 2007 after sustaining a neck injury that's now limited the use of his right arm. As Dimmu has gotten on in years, Silenoz admits they have failed to keep pace with some of the more extreme black-metal acts that have followed in their wake.
"We helped open doors for the more extreme bands out there," Silenoz said. "I'm sure we helped open doors for bands like Watain, [insomuch as] people that had maybe started listening to us first then went on to the more extreme stuff. Let's face it — we're not as extreme as Watain and other bands like that, but we're fine with that."
The Blackest of the Black Tour continues through November 10 in San Francisco.
The rest of the week's metal news:
Dimmu's tourmates on Blackest, Winds of Plague, have announced ex-Azusa drummer Art Cruz has joined their ranks — he replaced Jeff Tenney. According to the band's blog, "Art has already added a new spark to the band and has provided us with a solid backbone that will allow us to continue our rampage stronger than ever." ...
What the world really needs is another Led Zeppelin box set, so, on November 4, Rhino Records will issue the Led Zeppelin Definitive Collection Mini LP Replica CD box set. For just $200, you'll get 1969's Led Zeppelin, 1969's Led Zeppelin II, 1970's Led Zeppelin III, 1971's Led Zeppelin IV, 1973's Houses of the Holy, 1975's Physical Graffiti, 1976's Presence, 1976's The Song Remains the Same, 1979's In Through the Out Door and 1982's Coda, as mini-LP replicas, with artwork from the original U.K. LP sleeves. Now, you know what you can get your dad for Christmas. ...
Former Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach and current Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz have teamed up for a new project they're calling Times of Grace, and they've already started working on material for their debut album. According to Leach, "We have two songs to go and we will be finished with all of the vocals. Adam has taken lead vocals in three songs as of yet and he is doing a great job. We also worked on a track yesterday that is so epic — we trade vocals and do two different melodies at the same time. This album went from a melodic metal album to an epic mix of metal/rock/pop/shoegaze and punk. So all of your metal expectations will be incorrect — we are pushing genre boundaries." To quote "Meet the Parents," we'll look forward to that, Greg. ...
The Funeral Pyre and Early Graves will be hitting the road together next month, starting November 7 in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dates are booked through November 21 in Hollywood. ...
The latest incarnation of Brujeria, which features Carcass frontman Jeff Walker and Napalm Death's Shane Embury, have lined up several U.S. dates for this winter. The band will begin its brief trek November 28 in Denver, and wrap things up in Dallas on December 7. ... Demiricous will be touring with the Gates of Slumber starting November 9 in Denver, for a jaunt that's scheduled to run through December 6 in Indianapolis. ...
Nearly three years after Roadrunner Records' Roadrunner United concert, which took over the Nokia Theater in New York's Times Square, the label is now releasing footage from that special night as "Roadrunner United: The Concert." The DVD, which hits stores December 9, will boast two discs and 24 live tracks, including Life of Agony's "River Runs Red," King Diamond's "Abigail," Killswitch's "My Last Serenade," Type O Negative's "Black No. 1" and Sepultura's "Refuse/Resist." ...
According to Blabbermouth, Verrot, bassist for Swedish black-metal outfit Elimi, committed suicide on October 3. In a statement, the band said, "Verrot was a very good friend, brother, an excellent bass player/musician and an important part of Elimi; we respect his decision and hope he'll find his way with the dark gods of Chaos. Let your black flame be a part of what brings forth the day of wrath."
Related ArtistsDaisy Fuentes Carla Gugino Krista Allen Abbie Cornish Amy Smart
Asia Argento Kate Bosworth Emmanuelle Chriqui Jessica Simpson Sienna Miller
Lacey Chabert Rihanna Jordana Brewster Michelle Obama Kelly Clarkson
Natassia Malthe Gina Philips Jennifer Garner Dania Ramirez Brittany Daniel
Eva Green Vanessa Simmons Samantha Morton Mia Kirshner Jessica White
Leighton Meester Maggie Gyllenhaal Lisa Snowdon Missy Peregrym Rebecca Romijn
Lucy Liu Mila Kunis Paige Butcher Lauren Bush Danica Patrick
Cameron Richardson Bianca Kajlich Ashley Greene Marika Dominczyk Sarah Polley
Changing up locales for promotional duties, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt enjoyed a day of shopping in the City of Lights with daughters Zahara and Shiloh on Saturday (November 27).
In Paris as Brad boosts interest for "Megamind 3D" while Angelina eases into "The Tourist" efforts, the power couple took their little ladies to load up on purchases at Bonpoint boutique.
A People magazine insider went on to dish a few of Brangelina and the kids' choices at the popular retail locale, with the list including "pajamas, gloves, boots, pants, sweaters, stuffed animals, knights? costumes and one green plastic alligator."
The sighting comes after the family spent the Thanksgiving holiday away from the States, of which Pitt previously told press, "I'm not really sure where we'll be for it, but yeah, it'll be overseas. We'll whip up a turkey somewhere."
Missi Pyle Alessandra Ambrosio Christina DaRe Adriana Lima Poppy Montgomery
Keeping up with their routine weekend family outings, Jessica Alba and husband Cash Warren were spotted making their way around Beverly Hills with daughter Honor Marie on Saturday (November 27).
The adorable trio first dropped by a local park to work up an appetite on the playground equipment before proceeding on to grab up brunch at Jack n' Jills restaurant.
The Alba/Warren family excursion comes shortly after Jess spoke with press about her desire to give Honor a sibling.
"Honor is so beautiful and I feel so enriched by being part of her life. She's my main priority now and I want to give her the best life possible. Before she was born I was totally focused on my career, but now with Cash and our daughter I feel that I'm building a wonderful family. I would like to have more children at some point," Alba revealed.
The 29-year-old actress added, "We didn't plan on starting a family so soon but when it happened we realized what a beautiful moment it was. We're a lot closer. The beauty of marriage and having a family is knowing you're sharing everything with someone else and are committed to being part of each other's lives. Cash and I understand that and together with our daughter, we want to have a wonderful life."
Kate Mara Mýa Mary Elizabeth Winstead Adrianne Curry Kristanna Loken
Jill Wagner Stacy Keibler Molly Sims Luján Fernández Jessica Biel
Anna Kournikova Bonnie Jill Laflin Rachel Hunter Anna Faris Taylor Swift
Jennifer Gimenez Jill Wagner Stacy Keibler Molly Sims Luján Fernández
Zooey Deschanel Robin Tunney Kat Von D The Avatars of Second Life Jodi Lyn O\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'Keefe
Tila Tequila Leslie Bega Larissa Meek Moon Bloodgood Emmanuelle Vaugier
Rachel Perry Lena Headey Nelly Furtado Rozonda Thomas Brittny Gastineau
Eliza Dushku Lauren Conrad The Pussycat Dolls Kelly Carlson Eva Longoria
Dominique Swain Jaime Pressly Catherine Bell Padma Lakshmi Eve
Rebecca Mader Melania Trump Tricia Vessey Katie Cassidy Ciara
Halle Berry Maria Bello Tina Fey Michael Michele Nicole Richie
Amanda Bynes Giuliana DePandi Radha Mitchell Lorri Bagley Maria Menounos
Roselyn Sanchez Arielle Kebbel Katharine Towne Garcelle Beauvais Salma Hayek
Janet Jackson Katie Holmes Laura Prepon Georgianna Robertson Piper Perabo
Lake Bell Gretha Cavazzoni Melissa Sagemiller Eliza Dushku Lauren Conrad
Summer Glau Anna Friel Megan Ewing Izabella Scorupco Kelly Brook
Alice Dodd Michelle Trachtenberg Isla Fisher Victoria Beckham Brody Dalle
Jordana Brewster Michelle Obama Kelly Clarkson Angelina Jolie Melissa Rycroft
Album art from Pink Floyd, Blur and David Bowie also included.
By James Montgomery
Coldplay's new British stamps
Photo: Royal Mail
On Thursday (January 7), the U.K.'s Royal Mail unveiled a series of 10 new stamps, honoring the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years.
The albums featured in the new series are the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed, Led Zeppelin's IV, David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, The Clash's London Calling, New Order's Power, Corruption and Lies, Primal Scream's Screamadelica, Pink Floyd's The Division Bell, Blur's Parklife and — the most recent album on to make the cut — Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head.
Meant to honor "the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people's lives," the series is the end result of a lengthy research process by the Royal Mail, who looked through thousands of album covers by British artists before deciding on the final list. And, during a Wednesday night BBC Radio broadcast, it was revealed that the queen herself actually approved each design.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page — who helped design the cover for IV — was on hand to celebrate the release of the stamps and recalled the mysterious nature of the album's iconic imagery.
"Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time."
Of course, any great honor is befitting of an equally great contest, so, on the same day the stamps were made available to the general public, Coldplay decided to give one of their Rush of Blood stamps away. In a message on their official site, the band held a contest to send one lucky fan "a letter using a Coldplay stamp, postmarked with today's issue date."
"We visited our local post office earlier today and bought some of the Coldplay stamps," the message read. "Very nice they are too."
Related Photos Related ArtistsErika Christensen Carol Grow Mariah O\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'Brien Kylie Bax Ana Beatriz Barros