US EditionHere’s What Happened at the Royal Swedish Ceremony That Honored Queen’s Brian May & Roger Taylor and Herbie Hancock
- At a gala held on May 27, 2025, in the Vinterträdgården room of Stockholm’s Grand Hôtel, Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen, along with jazz musician Herbie Hancock and conductor Barbara Hannigan, were honored with the Polar Music Prize.
- The Polar Music Prize, established by ABBA’s manager Stig 'Stikkan' Anderson to honor outstanding musical achievements, was bestowed by Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf at a ceremony attended by more than 500 guests, including members of the Swedish royal family, music industry professionals, and relatives of the recipients.
- The ceremony included heartfelt speeches by laureates, live performances such as Adam Lambert singing Queen hits, Esperanza Spalding and Robert Glasper performing Herbie Hancock's compositions, and Ghost delivering an acclaimed 'Bohemian Rhapsody' tribute.
- Roger Taylor expressed that when the band first formed, they had goals but could not have anticipated the remarkable path ahead, while Brian May reflected on how his younger self in 1974 would be astonished to witness the band’s 50-year milestone being celebrated.
- The award recognized the entirety of the laureates' careers and reinforced the Polar Music Prize’s growing prestige as a global honor for musical achievement since its 1992 inception.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Brian May, 77, inundated with support as Queen guitarist and Roger Taylor celebrate career milestone
Queen drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Sir Brian May received the prestigious Polar Music Prize from the King of Sweden during a gala ceremony held in Stockholm on Tuesday. The rock legends shared the honour with US jazz musician Herbie Hancock and Canadian conductor Barbara Hannigan at the Grand Hotel Stockholm.Founded by Abba publisher, lyricist and manager Stig "Stikkan" Anderson, the award celebrates the power and importance of music. The …
Queen honored as Laureate of the 2025 Polar Music Prize
Michael Campanella/Getty Images Queen was honored as Laureate of the 2025 Polar Music Prize in Sweden Tuesday, with Brian May and Roger Taylor on hand to accept the honor. “When we started our band … we had ambitions, but never dreamed of the journey that was to follow,” Taylor said at the ceremony. “We were fortunate in the fact that our four wildly different personalities came together to achieve a wonderful chemistry.” Taylor noted that the h…
Here’s What Happened at the Royal Swedish Ceremony That Honored Queen’s Brian May & Roger Taylor and Herbie Hancock
Legendary rockers Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen, master jazz artist Herbie Hancock and conductor/soprano and contemporary classical musician Barbara Hannigan received their Polar Music Prize awards from the hands of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden in the Vinterträdgården room of Stockholm’s elegant Grand Hôtel on Tuesday (May 27). Related Loo…
The King Met the Queen – Presented the Polar Prize
Rock band Queen, jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and conductor and soprano Barbara Hannigan are this year's recipients of the Polar Prize. In addition to a mountain-shaped glass statuette signed by Efva Attling and Orrefors, the laureates will receive one million kronor each.
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