The Punk Rock Museum Gains The Ghost – RECAP

I had the honor of returning to The Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas a few weeks ago—the same place where walls talk, guitars still hum feedback, and the floors are sticky with adhesive and history. This time, I wasn’t just walking the halls—I was once again guiding people through them, telling stories, laughing, and even getting a little emotional.

The big moment was Donating The Ghost. That bass guitar has been through the trenches—sweaty clubs, cross-continental tours, and shady green rooms galore. Letting it go wasn’t easy, but seeing it in the museum, surrounded by a shared legacy, felt right. It’s not mine anymore—it’s ours.

Also, a HUGE shoutout to the Punk Scholars Network for inviting me to speak on a panel during my time in Vegas. It was an honor to sit alongside longtime friend and Museum maestro Fat Mike and Jessica Schwartz from UCLA’s Punkast and dig into the deeper layers of punk—its history, politics, and the personal stories that don’t always make the stage. The conversation reminded me how vital these academic and cultural spaces are in keeping punk’s spirit alive and evolving.

What blew me away, though, was you—the fans. The posts, the tags, the DMs, the interviews, the random shoutouts on social media—it’s been surreal. Seeing your photos from the tours, the selfies with the exhibits, and your reactions to the stories I shared (and those I didn’t) made everything more meaningful. You reminded me that punk is still alive—not just in the music, but in the people who keep showing up, decade after decade, with the same fire burning in their guts.

Some of you said walking through the museum felt like walking through your teenage bedroom. Others told me it helped you connect with your kids, your past, or a part of yourself that needed to scream again. That’s the heart of this whole thing.

So thank you. For showing up. For caring. For still giving a damn!

And if you haven’t made it to The Punk Rock Museum yet, what are you waiting for? Come find me—I’ll be the one standing by the bass with a story or two left to tell.

@thepunkrockmusem, @jenniferfinch, @punkscholarsnetwork.us, @melaniekayepr

#jenniferfinch #thepunkrockmuseum #thepunkscholarsnetwork #bassplayer #lasvegas #guidedtours #punkhistory #fenderbass #bass #bassist #bassguitar #bassgirl #basswoman