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Today’s Music News: Lee’s Liquor Lounge sold, new owner plans to preserve landmark venue

by Staff

May 26, 2015

Lee's Liquor Lounge is being sold, and its new owner plans to preserve the landmark Minneapolis bar and music venue largely as it is. Louis Sirian, owner of Lee's for 40 years, will sell the venue to regular customer Craig Kruckeberg, who plans to add a patio and begin accepting credit cards, but otherwise doesn't plan any major changes. "My greatest fear was that someone without any sense would buy [Lee's] and turn it into a parking lot or a bunch of condos," says Sirian. (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal)

Third Man Records issued a statement clearing up a few misconceptions about Jack White: (a) though the White Stripes are permanently broken up, Jack is not angry with Meg White; (b) Jack will tour again, but he is taking a long break from the road, and (c) his participation in Tidal is because he supports artists, not because he wants truckloads of cash. (Pitchfork)

Ryan Adams somehow broke a rib around the time of his performance at the Sasquatch Music Festival—but his shows will go on. (Consequence of Sound)

Unfortunately there's another band to add to the list of those who have had their touring vans burglarized: Surfer Blood, who lost thousands of dollars in a Schaumburg, Ill. robbery. Sadly, the money that was stolen included donations for guitarist Thomas Fekete, who is fighting a rare form of cancer. (Pitchfork)

neil-young-and-promise-of-the-real

Robyn has announced that she'll be performing in August at Stockholm's Dans Dakar festival with a new project called La Bagatelle Magique, a collaboration with her keyboardist Markus Jägerstedt. (Pitchfork)

A group of dozens of music history experts have said they believe a photo purported to be of Robert Johnson does not actually depict the legendary bluesman. A fan paid $2,200 for the photo on eBay ten years ago, believing it to be an authentic undiscovered image of Johnson. (Consequence of Sound)

A 1966 letter from George Harrison reveals that planned Beatles sessions at the famous Stax Studio in Memphis failed to happen due to financial issues, not due to security considerations as formerly believed. The letter has been offered for sale by a collector at the price of $20,000. (Billboard)

Christophe Chassol, a French pianist who appears on the forthcoming Frank Ocean album, says that at least part of the album was recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios. (Billboard)

Pussy Riot have sued Russian authorities over an attack by Cossacks during the Sochi Olympics. Band members say that the authorities have failed to properly investigate the assault, which was captured on film. (Billboard)

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This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.