Brian May Premieres Unreleased 1974 Queen Track on Radio

Brian May, the guitarist for the iconic rock band Queen, premiered a long-lost track from the group's archives during his Christmas radio special on Planet Rock on December 22. The song, titled "Not for Sale Polar Bear," was recorded in 1974 during sessions for Queen's second album, Queen II, but did not appear on the final release. The hour-long broadcast, hosted by the 78-year-old musician, concluded with the first public airing of the tune, which features the distinctive vocals of late frontman Freddie Mercury.

May described the track as a "work in progress" from the band's early days in the 1970s. "It's a song that goes back a very long way, but to my knowledge, no one has ever heard this version," he told listeners. He added that he included it in the special out of curiosity about public response: "I'm sneaking this in because I'm just fascinated to know what people think about it." A remastered version of the song is slated for inclusion on a rebuilt edition of Queen II, set for release in 2026.

The special, which aired at 6 p.m. and was repeated on Christmas Day at 1 p.m., offered a mix of seasonal music and personal reflections from May on holidays past. Listeners heard...