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Brian May Premieres Unheard Queen Track ‘Not For Sale (Polar Bear)’ Ahead of Queen II Reissue

The long-shelved Queen II outtake, rooted in Brian May’s pre-Queen Smile song, was aired as a work-in-progress.

Overview

  • May debuted the song on December 22 during his Planet Rock year-end show, introducing it as a surprise final selection.
  • He described the version as a work in progress and said it will appear on a rebuilt Queen II planned for 2026, with no release date announced.
  • The song originated with Smile in 1969, co-written with Tim Staffell and first recorded at De Lane Lea, then reworked in Queen’s 1974 Queen II sessions but left off the album.
  • The broadcasted recording features Brian May singing the verses with Freddie Mercury taking the chorus.
  • Recent reports also note May’s disclosure of a minor stroke last year and Anita Dobson’s view that future Queen activity will favor limited appearances over full-scale tours.