Okay, it’s not really been discovered. It’s always been there, just the usual legal complications of who owns the release rights. I’m not a betting man, but my guess is it’s not the artist. Regardless, word has it these original unheard recordings by early Pink Floyd (with Syd Barrett), Queen (with Freddie Mercury) and Bowie (without Ziggy) are finally going to see the light of day. Apparently the BBC had them in a vault all these years and now have cut a deal with the artists’ label EMI allowing them the release rights . Who knows what else is out there? Maybe some early undiscovered Spice Girl tapes.

Classic grunge-rocker, Neil Young will be the keynote speaker at Sun Microsystem’s JavaOne Conference in San Francisco. What does a musician representing the Woodstock Nation have to do with advancing technology? Good question?

Who is Ed Cassidy you might ask? Ed was the drummer for one of my favorite (underrated) West Coast bands of the sixties; Spirit. Featuring the late guitarist Randy California, Spirit was a staple on FM rock radio with “Nature’s Way,”,” Mr. Skin” and that early ode to the ecology; “Fresh Garbage.” Ed turns 85 today and can still blow out the candles on his cake while doing a rimshot.

YouTube-Spirit-Nature\’s Way

NEW YORK (AP) — Danny Federici, the longtime keyboard player for Bruce Springsteen whose stylish work helped define the E Street Band’s sound on hits from “Hungry Heart” through “The Rising” died Thursday. He was 58.

The Allman Bros. will postpone touring while band leader, Greg Allman recovers from hepatitis C. Word is that they still plan to go ahead with their headlining spot at Bonnaroo this summer. Get well Gregg.

“I’m getting better but I’m still tired,” the “Whipping Post” singer said. “I need to be at 110 percent to do the shows the way we do them. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the support and understanding my Brothers and our fans have given me.”

Queen announce a world tour and new album to be released this September. This will be their first new studio material in 13 years.

From Frank Mayeran, Revolving World contributor:

According to multiple UK news sources, Sir Paul McCartney will finally be releasing the Beatles catalog to the Apple iTunes store. It is rumored that the deal is worth $400 million! The bulk of the money will go to Sir Paul, and the rest is to be split between Ringo, the surviving widows of John & George, Sony EMI, and of course, the previous owner of the catalog, Michael Jackson. While a time frame has yet to be released, Sir Paul himself had hinted back in November to a 2008 release.

From Frank Mayeran, Revolving World contributor:

Mike Smith lead singer and keyboard player of The Dave Clark Five passed away yesterday, two weeks prior to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. According to an article in the U.K.’s Telegraph; The Dave Clark Five “sold more than 100 million records, sold out five consecutive world tours and made a record 18 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.”

Note: The Dave Clark Five’s first major hit, Glad All Over, knocked the Beatles’ I Want To Hold Your Hand off the No1 spot in 1964.

Buddy Miles played drums for Band of Gypsies with Jimi Hendrix back in the days of acid rock and psychedelia. He died yesterday at the age of 60 at his home in Austin, Texas. Miles also played with the Electric Flag, The Delfonics, The Buddy Miles Express and Santana. Little known fact: he was the voice of the lead California Raisin in the popular television commercials a few years back. He will be missed.

On the heels of their best-selling album, “Raising Sand;”Robert Plant & Alsion Krauss will be appearing in Detroit at the Fox Theatre on June 17. Amazing that Plant’s career has taken off so meteorically (easier to write than to say) in the last six months. Still mum about a tour with his former bandmates, but expect to see something this fall.