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The Punk Rock Museum

Coordinates: 36°9′14.544″N 115°9′37.85″W / 36.15404000°N 115.1605139°W / 36.15404000; -115.1605139
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The Punk Rock Museum
Map
EstablishedApril 1, 2023 (2023-04-01)
Location1422 Western Ave, Las Vegas, Nevada, US 36°9′14.544″N 115°9′37.85″W / 36.15404000°N 115.1605139°W / 36.15404000; -115.1605139
Founder"Fat Mike" Burkett
Pat Smear
Websitewww.thepunkrockmuseum.com

The Punk Rock Museum is a 12,000-square-foot space dedicated to the punk rock music genre, which opened on April 1, 2023.[1] Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, the museum was founded by "Fat Mike" Burkett of the band NOFX, and developed by Burkett and production manager Lisa Brownlee. It is governed by a ten-person collective of musicians and museum investors including Burkett, co-founder Pat Smear (The Germs), and skateboarder Tony Hawk.

History

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The Punk Rock Museum was founded by NOFX frontman Mike Burkett, also known as Fat Mike, and developed by Burkett and production manager Lisa Brownlee.[2][3] It is governed by a ten-person collective of musicians and museum investors including Burkett, co-founder Pat Smear (The Germs), and skateboarder Tony Hawk.[2] Burkett invited Canadian punk rock musician Talli Osborne to become the museum's spokesperson, who would be responsible for representing the museum at punk music events.[4]

Layout

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The museum houses more than 1,000 artifacts documenting the history of the punk rock music genre from its birth to the present day.[5] The exhibits, contributions by bands and members of the worldwide punk community, include fliers, artwork, clothing, and instruments used in recordings and on tours by notable punk musicians.[6] Prominent features include molds for the signature helmets of Devo and a photograph of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain sitting on a couch, with the accompanying couch.[1] Founder Burkett has stated the museum is planned as all-inclusive, inviting punk musicians globally to submit memorabilia, stating "We'll let anybody into our world unless you're really annoying. Or a rock star. You can't act like a rock star, because then you get kicked out."[3] As of 2023, guided tours are offered by punk musicians themselves, including members of The Vandals, Social Distortion, and Less Than Jake.[7][6] The museum plans to create travelling exhibitions of its collection in the future.[3]

Housed inside the museum is The Triple Down,[8] a dive bar; The Jam Room, a room with donated musical instruments for visitors to utilize; and a chapel offered for weddings and wakes.[1] There is also the Wall of Insignificant and Unknown Bands, where punk bands of any background are invited to post their band fliers.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Goldstein, Michael (April 23, 2023). "Punk Rock, The Music Las Vegas Would Never Play, Now Gets A Museum There". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Benzine, Vittoria (October 14, 2022). "Leather Jackets, Ripped T-Shirts, and a Gallery Where You Can Thrash on a Guitar: America's Only Permanent Punk Rock Museum Opens in Las Vegas". ArtNet. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Trivett, Ben (April 8, 2023). "NOFX's Fat Mike gives us a sneak peek at the new Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  4. ^ Nickerson, Cara (August 25, 2022). "Canadian punk legend Talli Osborne picked as face of new Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas". CBC Hamilton. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  5. ^ Kuta, Sarah (October 21, 2022). "A Punk Rock Museum Is Coming to Las Vegas". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Alexandra, Rae (May 4, 2023). "Las Vegas' Punk Rock Museum Has a Treasure Trove of Bay Area Treats". KQED. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Ladouceur, Liisa (April 11, 2023). "10 Punk Rock Museums Around The World That Prove Punk Will Never Die". Spin. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  8. ^ Bracelin, Jason (July 14, 2023). "Booze in Pringles cans: Explore Vegas' newest dive-bar-to-be". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
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