Though both pop giants have departed this mortal coil, a duet between Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury is in the works: Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor are mixing tracks recorded by the flamboyant singers decades ago, and have enlisted Madonna producer William Orbit.

Working on the blast-from-the-past music has been "exciting, challenging, emotionally taxing, but cool," says May. "There are a few items in progress. We will have something for folks to hear in a couple of months’ time, hopefully."

Mercury and Jackson laid down some notes back in 1980 at Jackson's home studio in Encino, California, but never got around to finishing the project. The Jackson estate gave May and Taylor its blessing to work on the song two years ago.

Music from a pre-Thriller Michael Jackson? This could be amazing—or totally horrible. There's usually a reason songs stay in the attic for 33 years.

Related: Adam Lambert on "Inspiration" Freddie Mercury