In the spring of 2024, Cindy Lee became a sensation. Patrick Flegel, formerly of the indie band Women, had been recording and performing as the drag persona Cindy Lee for years, attracting a fervent cult following in the process. But Diamond Jubilee — a sprawling double-disc project that felt like a secret radio broadcast from an alternate past, streamable only on YouTube and on sale through a Geocities website — captured seemingly the whole underground’s imagination, both for its musical content and its off-the-grid release strategy. There was a major clamor around the project, which led to packed shows on Cindy Lee’s spring tour. But Flegel ultimately pulled the plug on the tour, canceling its last several shows and offering no statement as to why.
