Queen have shared their previously unheard Christmas song, 'Not For Sale (Polar Bear)'.
This comes after Brian May had announced plans to share the track, which was originally recorded during sessions in 1974, for the band's second studio album, Queen II. The track ultimately failed to make the album's final list.
Now, Queen have shared this track, which has been reissued and remastered, featuring on the new version of the album, which is due for release next year.
Confirming the track's release, Brian May 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,” he added. “I hope people have a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year!”.
It is believed that Not For Sale' has undergone several transformations before it was recorded during the recording sessions for Queen II, a time which also saw them produce some of their complex and theatrical work.
Not For Sale, which you can check out below, shows Brian May and the late Freddie Mercury on lead vocals.
Speaking of Brian May, the Queen guitarist gifted a left handed replica of his famous Red Special guitar to Black Sabbath star, Tony Iommi.
Confirming this news on social media, Tony Iommi said: Huge thanks to my best friend @brianmayforreal and master builder Andrew Guyton @guyton_guitars for this incredible left-handed Red Special replica. Andrew personally delivered it last week – a true gift from Brian, two years in the making. Christmas came early!".
The guitar itself was assembled from scratch in the early 1960s alongside his father Harold, owing to the fact that he was unable to afford a major brand at the time. It was built with mahogany from an old fireplace mantle and oak fingerboard with mother-of-pearl buttons.
It was used by May on stage throughout Queen's heyday in the 1970s and 1980s, synonymous with the band's sound. More on this from Nova here.
