Sealand News

Chicago-based experimental rockers Airiel are to play Sealand’s first ever live gig, to be webcast from the World’s smallest independent country.

The Principality of Sealand has invited Airiel to play live from the Royal Palace with a webcam internet broadcast letting internet users around the globe watch for free.

Having just released their new album entitled “The Battle of Sealand”, in recognition of HRH Prince Roy’s heroic fight for sovereignty, the U.S. rockers are considered to be the ideal choice to perform the first ever live concert on the former military fortress .

With their unique brand of ultra-loud rock, Airiel will literally shake the nation to its foundations.

“When we found out about the exciting history of Sealand, we had to name our album after one of the Principality’s most triumphant moments,” states Airiel’s guitarist Chris deBrizzio. “Sealand is such a fascinating place and we are honoured to be invited as the first band to actually get to play there. And to be made Lords of Sealand is just unbelievable. I never thought I’d have a title!”

Read more here: Sourcewire

Even though Sealand is not a member of the Universal Postal Union, there have been several sets of Sealand stamps that are highly valued by philatelists all over the globe.

The first Sealand postage stamps were issued in September 1969, when a helicopter mail service was instituted between the Principality of Sealand and Belgium. These stamps feature portraits of famous navigators and explorers like Vasco da Gama, Sir Francis Drake, Captain Cook, Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Martin Frobisher. The second set from the early Seventies shows the ships of these explorers as well as portraits of HRH Prince Roy and Princess Joan of Sealand.

Few postage stamp issues have been made since then, but stamps continue to be in use, although in the age of e-mail the volume of such mail is rather small.

The Principality of Sealand has awarded noble titles to the members of the popular band, as a thank you for naming their new CD “The Battle of Sealand”.

Airiel is currently in talks to be the first band to perform on Sealand.

Sealand, a small ex-British anti-aircraft platform used during WWII, sits just off the Southeast coast of the U K. Since the micro nation has only a population of around twenty, no connections to mainland England, and questionable international status, how does the micro-nation get wired?

Read more here:Really Rocket Science