“No one has ever heard this version”: Queen guitarist Brian May reveals previously unreleased track from the band

An early Christmas gift for fans. Queen guitarist Brian May revealed on Monday a previously unreleased track from the legendary British group that was not included in their second album, during a show he hosted on Planet Rock radio.

This song of his composition, called “Not For Sale (Polar Bear)”, was broadcast during a late Christmas special on British radio.

Recorded for the rock group’s second album, Queen II, released in 1974, the song was ultimately not selected. A pirated version of the song, but dating from the group Smile, founded by May before her Queen years, would however have circulated among fans.

A pirated version of the song, but dating from the group Smile, had been circulating

“It’s a song that goes back a very long time, but to my knowledge, no one has ever heard this version,” said the guitarist while presenting the title, on which several voices intermingle, including one which seems to be that of singer Freddie Mercury.

“I’m slipping this version (here) because I’m curious to know the public’s reactions,” he added, specifying that the piece will appear in the reissue of the album, scheduled for 2026.

During this special broadcast, the musician returned to the music, anecdotes and stories that shaped his Christmases.

Queen, formed in 1970, became one of the most iconic rock bands thanks to the vocals of Freddie Mercury, the guitar playing of Brian May, the bass lines of John Deacon and the dynamic drums of Roger Taylor. Known for its mix of genres, the group has delivered hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Another One Bites the Dust”.