Queen have released a never-before-heard Christmas song ‘Not For Sale (Polar Bear)’ – listen below.
The track was recorded in 1974 during the sessions for the band’s second studio album ‘Queen II’, but it did not make the final cut. As they ready that record’s reissue, which is due in 2026, they have shared ‘Not For Sale (Polar Bear)’ in time for Christmas.
Guitarist Brian May, who wrote the song for his previous band Smile, gave the song its premiere during a stint presenting on the Planet Rock radio station on Monday (December 22), and has said that it “goes back a very long way, but to my knowledge no one has ever heard this version”.
“It’s a work in progress and will appear on the forthcoming rebuild of the ‘Queen II’ album – coming next year – but I’m sneaking this into my Planet Rock special because I’m fascinated to know what people think about it,” May added. “I hope people have a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year!”
Listen to the song, a slow-burner that sees May and Freddie Mercury trade lead vocals, here:
In other news, earlier this month May gifted Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi with a left-handed replica of his classic Red Special guitar.
The original Red Special was assembled from scratch in the early 1960s by May with his father Harold, as he was unable to afford a major brand. Built with mahogany from an old fireplace mantle and an oak fingerboard with mother-of-pearl buttons, it remained May’s primary guitar on stage throughout Queen’s success in the ‘70s and ‘80s and became synonymous with the band’s sound.
May’s wife Anita Dobson implied that despite Queen working on new music with Adam Lambert, it was unlikely that they would resume full-scale touring. “They will do little bits and bobs, but they won’t do those big tours,” she said.
May suffered a minor stroke last year, which he said came on “all of a sudden, out of the blue”. He said it left him without any control over one of his arms and described it as “a little scary”.
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