US EditionHere’s What Happened at the Royal Swedish Ceremony That Honored Queen’s Brian May & Roger Taylor and Herbie Hancock
- On May 27, 2025, King Carl XVI Gustaf awarded the Polar Music Prize to Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor, jazz musician Herbie Hancock, and conductor Barbara Hannigan in Stockholm.
- The event followed the tradition of honoring artists for lifetime achievement in music, with the prize founded by Stig "Stikkan" Anderson in 1992 to celebrate music's power.
- The six-hour gala at Stockholm's Grand Hôtel featured speeches from laureates reflecting on personal influences, and performances by Adam Lambert, Esperanza Spalding, Ghost, and others.
- Roger Taylor said the prize recognizes "the entirety of an artiste's career," while Brian May reflected on living a 50-year dream since Queen's 1974 formation.
- The ceremony underscored the Polar Music Prize's prestige and Queen's enduring influence, continuing a legacy with past winners like Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Metallica.
17 Articles
17 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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