Queen to release new album, unreleased Freddie Mercury tracks

LONDON, May 27 (UPI) -- Queen fans will soon get to hear previously unreleased songs by Freddie Mercury.

Guitarist Brian May recently spoke to BBC Radio and revealed that he and the band have a new compilation album planned. The record is tentatively titled Queen Forever, and features previously unheard songs by late frontman Freddie Mercury.

"We found a few more tracks with Freddie singing and all of us playing and they're quite beautiful," the musician says. "People will be hearing this work toward the end of the year."

Mercury was with the band since its inception in 1970, but died from complications brought on by AIDS in 1991. The album will feature material from the 1980s when the band was "in full flight."

"I think people will really enjoy it," he continues. "It's the big, big epic sound. It wouldn't have been if we hadn't done this restoration job. We only had scraps, but knowing how it would've happened had we finished it, I can sit there and make it happen with modern technology."

May also divulged that he and the band have a followup planned to Queen-based musical We Will Rock You. The original production features the music of Queen, and debuted in London in 2002.

"We are working on a sequel, yes," the guitarist admits. "In fact, we've already very secretly and quietly workshopped, which means you stand it up and get people to sing it and act it. Everybody loved it, so we're looking for a theater."

"More than this I cannot say," he teases. "It's a little naughtier than the first one."

The busy band has a 19-date North American tour planned for the summer. The tour kicks off June 19 in Chicago, and ends July 20 in Washington D.C.