Sir Brian May, the 78-year-old guitarist of Queen, is set to debut an unreleased track titled “Not For Sale (Polar Bear)” during a special festive broadcast on Planet Rock on Monday, 22 December. The song was originally recorded during the sessions for Queen’s 1974 album Queen II but did not make the final cut.
While a bootleg version of the song may have circulated from May’s pre-Queen band, Smile, the guitarist has assured fans that “no one has ever heard” this particular version. The track will also feature in the upcoming 2026 rerelease of Queen II.
Speaking about the song, Sir Brian said: “It’s a song that 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.”
The Planet Rock Christmas Special will air at 6pm on Monday, with a repeat on Christmas Day at 1pm. The programme will include a hand-picked selection of Sir Brian’s favourite Christmas and seasonal tracks, as well as reflections on the music and memories that have shaped his Christmases over the years.
Queen, formed in the 1970s, comprised Sir Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor, late frontman Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon. The band has achieved six UK number one singles and ten UK number one albums, with iconic hits such as “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Killer Queen”, and “We Are the Champions”. Earlier this year, Queen were named the most played rock act on UK radio and TV in the 21st century.
