QUEEN And PAUL RODGERS To Rush Commercial Release Of 'Say It's Not True'

Having originally issued the track as a free download for World Aids Day (December 1) to support Nelson Mandela's 46664 HIV AIDS campaign, rock group QUEEN and Paul Rodgers are responding to public demand to make their newly recorded song "Say It's Not True" available as a commercial CD single release.

All royalties from world sales will be donated to Nelson Mandela's AIDS cause, 46664.

QUEEN's first new studio recording in ten years and Paul Rodgers' first in seven years, the track is being rush-released by Parlophone/EMI throughout the world excluding North America to be available by the end of the year.

In South Africa, where the December 1 World Aids Day 46664 concert took place, the single will be on sale within a matter of days.

The release has been prompted by extraordinary download demand for the track which went beyond everyone's expectations. More then 100,000 downloads were recorded at the band's web site over the first weekend.

Roger Taylor, Brian May and legendary singer Paul Rodgers, have been recording intensively for their first studio album together, expected to be released in 2008, and, unable to appear in the 46664 concert this month in Johannesburg, they decided to donate one of their new tracks instead…a brand new and powerful version of the song "Say It's Not True", penned by Taylor.

The track was premiered in the Johannesburg concert with a specially commissioned video which highlights the hardship of the lives of the 5.5 million South Africans infected with HIV AIDS.

Of his song, Taylor says: "It is meant to make you think about these people, about what their lives are like, and how if we each try and help, we can together do something to bring about some change for them.'

QUEEN lost their lead singer Freddie Mercury to AIDS in November 1991. The band's last studio recording, "No-One But You", written by Brian May and released almost exactly ten years ago, was drawn from the experience of losing Freddie.

The band promise buyers of the single the premium of hearing the track in a new mix, heightened by further studio work by the band after the necessity of delivering an early mix for download in time for World AIDS Day.

The single comes as an enhanced CD release carrying the full video shown at the Johannesburg concert.

Says Paul Rodgers: "Having travelled to South Africa and met with Nelson Mandela, a living icon of peace, we need to stand behind his 46664 Campaign to bring awareness to and eradicate HIV/AIDS."

"Say It's Not True" video: