Two years in, and the Punk Rock Museum is still standing!

No one’s nodded out on the Kurt Cobain couch with a lit cigarette, and no one’s repelled through the skylight, Mission: Impossible-style, to swap out Joe Strummer’s weed with a fake. And somehow, despite the ancient relics, the noise, and the ghosts of a thousand van breakdowns, the walls aren’t bleeding or chanting Suicidal Tendencies lyrics backwards. However… did anyone else notice the basement no one knew was there, flooded with the blood of mall punk past? Creepy.

Congratulations PUNK ROCK MUSEUM TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY. Two Well-earned years! The party was a fantastic reunion—I got to sit down with Fat Mike, Kevin Lyman, Jack Grisham, and Vinnie Fiorello—held together by George Stroumboulopoulos—and we talked about the early days, the middle days, why there seem to be no end-days, and why community still matters. Each person brought such a unique perspective and was funny as f*ck. Every photo of the event shows me mid-laugh, making some awkward faces!

The next day, we flipped the script and I had the honor of interviewing the legendary Ed Colver. If you’ve ever seen a photo from the early Los Angeles punk scene that punched you in the gut, pulled at your heart, or made you stop and stare—he took it. We talked about the ethics of shooting from the inside, about documenting without exploiting, and why punk is, in its own way, about posing—but a kind built on intention and presence, not pretense.

Huge thanks to Lisa Johnson (rock photographer), Melanie Kaye, Nuit, Mike, and Vinnie Fiorello for trusting me with my first live interview moment.

And a big shout-out to all the bands who brought the fire: The Dollheads, Knuckleheadz, Playboy Manbaby, Voodoo Glow Skulls, and TSOL.

The “defining moment” goes out to Punk Hostage Press and Iris Berry for coordinating the touching presentations by Ron Emory and Jack Grisham in support of Mike Roche’s new book I Play With Giants. It was a raw embodiment of friendship and fellowship—of these amazing men and their commitment to music and each other. I think they said 50 years of friendship?

Sign up free to SH!T MY ROCKSTAR SAYS—where I talk about culture, punk rock, art, and whatever else my brain won’t shut up about. Link in bio. 🦋❤️🦋

PunkRockMuseum #PunkRockHistory

@thepunkrockmuseum, @jenniferfinch, @edwardcolver, @wunderlandwar @jackgrishamphoto, @fatmikedude, @kevinlyman, @strombo, @lisajohnsonrockphotographer, @punkhostagepress, @irisberry.official, @mikerochetsol, @ronemorytsol, @tsol_official, @voodooglowskulls, @playboymanbaby, @knuckleheadz_band, @the_dollheads

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