Hey Ho, Let’s Go to the Punk Rock Museum
Spring/Summer 2025
Las Vegas delivers the perfect love letter to all things punk.
BY RACHEL WRIGHT
Picture it: You walk into a museum and pick up an artifact. No sirens sound. No one asks you to leave. You’re encouraged to touch more things. Passersby watch and (possibly) cheer.
Like the music genre and subculture scene that inspired it, The Punk Rock Museum is all about getting hands-on and pushing the envelope. It’s a love letter to lifelong fans and an invite to anyone curious about the influence punk has had on music, fashion, and society.
“The Punk Rock Museum is for anyone that wants to look at the history that celebrates a culture that coined the term ‘DIY’ (Do It Yourself),” says Chief Communications Officer Melanie Kaye. “It aims to be inclusive and fun. Who doesn’t like fun?”
Opened in 2023, The Punk Rock Museum fills 12,000 square feet in the heart of Las Vegas with one-of-a-kind memorabilia. Items on display range from instruments and handwritten lyrics to clothing, photos, fliers, and artwork.
“Initially, we went through our personal contacts and asked people we had long relationships with if they wanted to donate or loan an artifact,” says Kaye. “After we opened, we found that most of our artifacts were coming in from people who reached out to us. It was incredibly moving as it was based on trust and mutual respect. They knew we would celebrate their legacy.”
(Stage) Dive In
You can pore over the expansive-yet-intimate collection for hours, plus changing and traveling exhibitions guarantee no two visits are the same. Better yet? You’ll get the full scoop from a living legend.
Every month, artists and personalities who helped shape the punk scene give guided tours of The Punk Rock Museum. Choose from musicians like CJ Ramone (Ramones/Me First and the Gimme Gimmes), Keith Morris (Black Flag/OFF!/Circle Jerks), and Linh Le (Bad Cop Bad Cop), or opt for well-known historians and TV hosts such as Matt Pinfield and Riki Rachtman. It’s a rare opportunity to explore alongside the icons featured in the galleries, and every guide brings their insider tales to the experience.
In the Jam Room, the museum wants people to play the actual instruments used by renowned punk bands. And if you accidentally break a guitar or bass from NOFX, Pennywise, or Rise Against, The Punk Rock Museum will fix it—just like roadies would do on tour.
Literally Live
Of course, you can’t have a punk rock museum without punk rock music. Scheduled and surprise shows happen in both the museum space and the on-site bar: the Triple Down. Past performers include Gogol Bordello, The Dwarves, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, and The Paradox. Along with live music, the Triple Down also hosts karaoke and trivia nights, plus album releases and special events (like a rockabilly prom). The establishment also offers a way to refresh your vocal chords with Vegas-brewed beers and specialty cocktails.
“One of our most popular drinks is called a Fletcher—named after Fletcher in the band Pennywise” says Kaye. “It’s a rum and cola served in a Pringles can, and the chips are served in a basket. It’s a drink and a snack, all in one!”
The museum warmly embraces the wild, in-your-face spirit of punk, but that’s not to say meaningful moments are lacking. There are plenty of heartfelt connections in the more than 50 years of community and culture lining the museum’s walls.
“One of my personal favorite items is a burnt guitar that belonged to my dear friend Dave Gregg, who played in D.O.A. as well as The Real McKenzies and The Groovaholics,” says Kaye. “I miss him a lot, so when I see his guitar and the amazing photo Bev Davies took of him lighting his guitar on fire, I get to have a little visit with him.”
For anyone who fell in love with the music or gave their blood, sweat, and tears to the scene, The Punk Rock Museum is simply a must. And even if you don’t feel that kinship, you should still join the party, Kaye believes.
“The exhibits and artifacts are always changing, and we have tour guides from legendary bands and notable artists who offer their personal perspectives,” she explains. “With everything going on, it truly leaves people wondering what they will see or who they will meet when they go to The Punk Rock Museum.”
