Joe Strummer of The Clash.
(Photo Courtesy of Steve Rapport)
THE PUNK ROCK MUSEUM TO HOST JOE STRUMMER’S
BIRTHDAY WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA AUG. 19
The Punk Rock Museum announces the celebration of Joe Strummer’s Birthday Weekend Extravaganza that will begin on Saturday, Aug. 19. The celebration includes the reveal of new artifacts, including Strummer’s iconic 1966 Fender Telecaster Guitar, original handwritten lyrics, and personal artifacts on loan from the Joe Strummer Estate. The weekend celebration begins a few days before what would have been his 71st birthday on Aug. 21.
The Punk Rock Museum is honored to celebrate the legacy of such a legendary figure as Strummer, whose influence on the punk rock movement and beyond is immeasurable.
Punk poet, musician, composer, actor, and style icon Joe Strummer spent his life smashing musical and cultural boundaries. As the singer of “the only band that matters,” The Clash, and through his work as a solo artist and with his final band, The Mescaleros, Strummer’s songs sound as urgent and vital today as when they were written. Calling out social injustices and giving a voice to the struggles of the working class, Strummer’s politically charged lyrics struck a chord with legions of fans and the press alike, with Rolling Stone calling The Clash “the greatest rock & roll band in the world.”
“People can change anything they want to,” he famously once said, “and that means everything in the world.” Through his art, Strummer played his part in shaping the musical landscape of the world and with it left an unrivaled and timeless legacy.
The Punk Rock Museum co-founder, and lifelong fan of The Clash, Lisa Brownlee acknowledges the profound impact The Clash has had on her life. “Listening to my favorite band, The Clash, in the mid-’80s, I felt I belonged to something bigger. I knew I was devoting myself to music that was going to make the world a better place. It was at that time I became who I am today, thanks to Joe Strummer.”
“Almost 40 years later, I am now the co-founder of The Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas. Our collective is made up of prestigious punk historians committed to preserving the sanctity and rich history of all things punk. It is here that we will have the honor of exhibiting some of the most important pieces of history from the Joe Strummer Estate. Joe always said, ‘The Future is Unwritten’ and he was correct. The past, however, is to be shared and experienced together and that’s just what we have the pleasure of doing here.”
As the museum pays homage to Strummer’s legacy, visitors are invited to experience the transformative power of punk rock and its ability to shape the world for the better. It is with deep respect and admiration to carry forward his enduring message of unity, creativity, and activism.
In this shared journey of education and inspiration, The Punk Rock Museum hopes to leave a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of all who pass through our doors.
As part of the night’s festive celebration on Aug. 19, there will be a special evening planned in Strummer’s honor with “All The Young Punks!” This birthday celebration will take place in the museum’s Triple Down bar with JR Ska Boss and Selecta Scream DJing, along with more surprises in the works.
The Triple Down bar will also feature specialty drinks all weekend. Guests are invited to try a Jimmy Jazz or Cider A-Go-Go thanks to the sponsor for this event: Laurel Canyon Spirits by Bryan Ray Turcotte.
In addition, the museum has partnered with Dark Horse Records for a limited edition of Strummer’s album “Assembly,” which will be available for a short time, exclusively at The Punk Rock Museum in distinctive pink packaging.
Other commemorative items available for purchase at the museum include a limited-edition poster from veteran screen-printing artist Garageland and a new tattoo flash by revered flash tattoo artist Jared Gaines in the museum’s own, onsite tattoo parlor, The Shop.
NOTE: Media are invited to join the ceremonial ribbon-cutting led by Lisa Brownlee and friends on Aug. 19 to kick off Joe Strummer’s Birthday Weekend Extravaganza. For more information or to RSVP, email Vanessa Thill at [email protected].
ABOUT THE PUNK ROCK MUSEUM
The Punk Rock Museum is the world’s most comprehensive attraction dedicated to the history, culture and absurdity of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s bastard stepchild. Located in Las Vegas, it houses not only artifacts and memorabilia from across the world’s punk scene—such as handwritten lyrics, instruments, clothing, photos, flyers and artwork—but also a bar, wedding/wake chapel, tattoo parlor, punk merch shop and more. Encompassing 12,000 square feet at 1422 Western Ave., between the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown, the museum celebrates the genre’s substantial cultural impact over the last half-century. For more information about The Punk Rock Museum, go to thepunkrockmuseum.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram @thepunkrockmuseum.