November 30, 2007

LONDON, England (AP) -- Queen and its new frontman, Paul Rodgers, have released the single "Say It's Not True" to mark World AIDS Day [Saturday, December 1].

It is the rock group's first new recording in 10 years, and is available as a free download.

Freddie Mercury, Queen's famous lead vocalist, died of an AIDS-related illness in 1991.

"By making the song available for free, we hope to help Nelson Mandela with his campaign to get across the message that no one is safe from infection," drummer Roger Taylor said Thursday in a statement. "We have to be aware, we have to protect ourselves and those we love."

He said the song follows the line of Mandela's personal message: "It's in our own hands to bring a stop to this."

The English rock group was formed in 1970 in London by guitarist Brian May, Mercury and Taylor, with bassist John Deacon joining the following year.

Queen rose to prominence during the 1970s and has been one of Britain's most successful bands of the past three decades.

In 1997, May, Taylor and Deacon reunited in the studio to record their last single, "No-One But You." It was released in 1998 in a tribute to Mercury.