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Cathy Wurzer

New exhibit at the MN History Center tells the story of legendary venue First Avenue

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In 1970, Joe Cocker, Leon Russell and 25 other musicians shared a stage for the first live show at a bus station-turned-venue called The Depot.

That club eventually became famous as First Avenue, and a new exhibit opening Saturday at the Minnesota History Center explores its history.

A few years after the Joe Cocker show, the venue was renamed Uncle Sam's, and live shows were mostly replaced by a DJ spinning records. Live music returned with a vengeance in 1979, when a capacity crowd turned out to see the Ramones.