A rare Queen recording resurfaces during the holidays
Queen fans received an unexpected Christmas surprise this week as guitarist Brian May unveiled a long-unreleased song titled “Not for Sale (Polar Bear)”. The track was premiered during the year-end episode of May’s Planet Rock radio show and immediately drew attention due to its deep roots in the band’s early history.
Origins tracing back to the Smile era
According to May, the song dates back to the late 1960s, when the band was still performing under the name Smile, with vocalist Tim Staffell. While a rough Smile-era version has circulated unofficially among collectors for years, May emphasized that the version he shared had never been publicly heard before.
A lost Queen II studio recording
The newly revealed recording comes from sessions for Queen’s 1974 album Queen II, featuring Freddie Mercury on vocals. May described the track as a work in progress that was ultimately left off the final album. He explained that the song, often referred to simply as “Polar Bear,” will officially appear on an upcoming expanded reissue of Queen II.
Brian May invites fan reaction
Before debuting the track, May told listeners he was eager to hear what fans think of the song, calling it a “very, very ancient” piece of Queen history. The guitarist said the decision to play it now was driven by curiosity and the festive spirit, rather than promotion.
Queen II reissue still in development
Plans for the Queen II reissue have been underway for some time. Earlier this year, May confirmed that several previously unreleased recordings, including “Polar Bear,” were being prepared for release. While the project is expected in 2026, an exact release date has not yet been announced.
The holiday broadcast also featured a selection of Brian May’s favorite seasonal songs, closing with a Christmas and New Year message to fans worldwide.
