The Who’s 60th Anniversary Is Commemorated On New British Postage Stamps

Britain’s Royal Mail is celebrating an iconic rock band’s special milestone.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Who, an occasion commemorated on a new set of U.K. postage stamps, which will go on sale on Oct. 17, Royal Mail announced in a press release.

Eight individual stamps depict the cover art from several of the band’s albums, including their 1965 debut My Generation; 1969’s Tommy; 1971’s Who’s Next; 1973’s Quadrophenia; 1978’s Who Are You; 1981’s Face Dances; 2006’s Endless Wire; and 2019’s WHO.

A miniature sheet of four stamps consists of publicity and electrifiying live performance shots featuring the classic Who lineup of guitarist/singer Pete Townshend, singer Roger Daltrey, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, the Who is one of the most successful and influential bands – along with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones – to emerge from the British Invasion era. The group’s songs have been staples of rock radio for decades–among them “I Can’t Explain,” “My Generation,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Baba O’Riley,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” “Who Are You” and “You Better You Bet.”

“The artwork on the album sleeves was almost as important to the success of the record as the music,” said Daltrey via Royal Mail’s news release. “It’s great to be reminded of them.”

“Stamp! Stamp! Stamp! It’s what I’ve done on stage all my life, sometimes in the air,” said Townshend in the same press release. “At last, my stamping, and that of my buddy Roger, has been honoured properly, and will help letters, parcels and birthday cards travel through time and space, just as we have.”

The Who is the latest musical act to appear on British postage alongside the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Queen, David Bowie, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Iron Maiden and most recently Spice Girls.

Led by surviving members Daltrey and Townshend (Moon and Entwistle died in 1978 and 2002, respectively), the Who has continued to record and tour — with WHO being the most recent record in the band’s discography. The group performed at London’s Royal Albert Hall earlier this year.

For information on the new Who stamps, click here.