Sir Brian May Debuts Never Before Heard Queen Song During Christmas Special

Sir Brian May has done the impossible: he recently debuted a previously unreleased Queen song that has remained hidden in the band’s archives for over fifty years. Titled ‘Not For Sale (Polar Bear)’, the track received its first-ever public airing on Monday, December 22, 2025, during May’s special festive broadcast on Planet Rock. The 78-year-old guitarist revealed that while a different version of the song had been recorded by his pre-Queen band, Smile, this specific rendition features the classic Queen lineup and the unmistakable vocals of the late Freddie Mercury.

The Independent says the track was originally recorded during the 1974 sessions for the band’s seminal second album, Queen II, but was ultimately omitted from the final tracklist. Describing it as a "work in progress" from a creatively explosive period, May expressed his excitement about sharing the discovery with the public. The song has been newly remastered and is actually lined up for an official release as part of a massive "rebuild" and reissue of Queen II scheduled for 2026.

Brian May, Legendary Guitarist for a Legendary Band

As the lead guitarist and a founding member of Queen, Sir Brian May is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians in the history of rock. Alongside Mercury, drummer Roger Taylor, and bassist John Deacon, May helped define a genre-blurring sound that blended hard rock, opera, and pop. His signature tone is famously produced by the 'Red Special', a guitar he hand-built with his father in the early 1960s using wood from an 18th-century fireplace mantle.

Beyond his technical virtuosity, May’s songwriting contributions include some of the most recognizable anthems in the world, such as 'We Will Rock You', 'The Show Must Go On', and 'Fat Bottomed Girls'. His ability to layer guitar tracks to create "orchestral" walls of sound became a hallmark of Queen's studio recordings, particularly on masterpieces like 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.

A Legacy Beyond the Stage

May’s influence extends far beyond the music industry. A true polymath, he put a burgeoning career in science on hold in 1971 to tour with Queen, eventually returning to his studies decades later to earn a PhD in Astrophysics from Imperial College London in 2007. He has since served as a science team collaborator for NASA missions and is a dedicated advocate for animal welfare through his Save Me Trust.

Knighted by King Charles III in 2023 for his services to music and charity, May continues to preserve the band’s legacy alongside Roger Taylor. While the band has evolved into Queen + Adam Lambert for modern touring, the discovery of ‘Not For Sale (Polar Bear)’ serves as a poignant reminder of the group's early chemistry. As fans look toward the 2026 reissue, the unveiling of this "lost" track provides a rare, intimate glimpse into the formative years of a band that has sold over 300 million records worldwide.