Leroy Bach Leaves Wilco

Leroy Bach has left Wilco after five years of holding down dual duty on keyboards and guitar.

According to a post on the band's site, the decision was Bach's, though no further information was available. "We'll all miss working with him and, of course, wish him the best in what comes next," a band statement read.

Departures are nothing new for the band. Multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett, who joined shortly after recording wrapped on Wilco's 1995 debut, was ousted from the group in the summer of 2001, just a few months after original drummer Ken Coomer (who had played with frontman Jeff Tweedy in Uncle Tupelo) was issued a pink slip.

Bach, well known on the Chicago music scene. He played with Liz Phair and his own band 5ive Style, and joined Wilco in the late Nineties, filling in after steel guitarist Bob Egan left its touring lineup. He first appeared on record in 1999's Summer Teeth.

Wilco initially toured its 2002 relese, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot as a four-piece -- just Tweedy, bassist John Stirratt, drummer Glenn Kotche (who joined during Foxtrot's sessions) and Bach. Keyboardist/laptop guy Mikael Jorgensen began to take the stage with the group during promotion for Foxtrot. Though he hasn't been formally introduced as a new member of the band, Jorgensen has been involved in the sessions for the new album, which as of late last year, had been tipped for a spring release.

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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