L to R: Matt and Marisa, just married at The Punk Rock Museum (Courtesy of JamieYPhotography); Circle Jerks by Rikki Ercoli, currently on display at The Punk Rock Museum (Courtesy of Rikki Ercoli).
THE PUNK ROCK MUSEUM ANNOUNCES OPENING OF WEDDING CHAPEL, TWO TEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITS
On Saturday, April 15, The Punk Rock Museum debuted its wedding chapel, which is available for anyone seeking to have a uniquely punk wedding at the museum. Wedding packages offered include Partners In Crime and Till Death Do Us Punk. For more information about the wedding packages and how to book, click here.
On Friday, April 28, from 7 to 9 p.m., the museum will officially celebrate two temporary exhibits featuring the stunning images of respected photographers Angela Boatwright and Rikki Ercoli. Both photographers will be present to discuss their work with invited guests and museum ticketholders.
Since The Punk Rock Museum’s opened its doors on April 1, the response has been incredible. Everyone is thrilled to see the mind-blowing curation, stunning photography, guided tours from punk rock legends and have drinks at the new Triple Down Bar. The feeling of joy is palpable and shared by all who have come by.
Information about the temporary exhibits and photographers follows:
“Los Punks: The Backyard Punk Scenes in East Los Angeles and South Central, 2013-2016”
Photographs by Angela Boatwright
Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Boatwright picked up a camera at age 14 and hasn’t stopped shooting since. Cutting her teeth photographing her skater friends, she quickly began shooting live punk, metal and hardcore bands, including photographing Kurt Cobain in a closet-sized venue in 1991. After high school, Boatwright wasted no time in splitting for New York City where she spent the next 20 years looking through the viewfinder. There, Boatwright continued shooting bands at legendary venues such as CBGB’s. Soon after arriving, her reputation grew, and Boatwright evolved from an enthusiastic amateur to a professional photographer. In 1997 she quit her day job to shoot photos full time. Her first photo assignment was for Thrasher, the legendary skateboard magazine. It was also at this time she began working at the Brooklyn-based youth culture magazine Mass Appeal, first as a photographer then as director of photography.
Since then, her work has appeared in a wide array of publications including New York Magazine, Vice, Nylon, Vibe and Dazed and Confused, as well as in books such as “Vice Photo Book,” “Definition: The Art and Design of Hip Hop,” “Juxtapoz Photo,” “Street World” and most recently, the best-selling “Contact High,” featuring her ground-breaking 2008 photographs of Nicki Minaj. She has also photographed campaigns for Roxy, Urban Outfitters, American Express and Vans.
After almost two decades in New York, Boatwright moved to Los Angeles where she began making documentary films. In 2013 she directed an online series titled “East Los for Vans,” documenting the backyard punk scenes in East Los Angeles and South Central. This series led to her first full-length documentary film, also for Vans, titled “Los Punks: We Are All We Have,” which was selected to premier at Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, in January 2016 and achieved huge praise via outlets such as the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and Variety.
Boatwright’s work has since focused on documenting fans and music scenes that figuratively and literally save young people. She also directed and produced a short for Red Bull about heavy metal in the United States and Mexico titled “Todo Es Metal” and introduced “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” (Season nine, episode two: Los Angeles) to the backyard punk scene in LA.
Boatwright is currently compiling an extensive photo book featuring the backyard punk scene in East LA and South Central, equally illuminated by works from the punks within the scene.
“In The Beginning Photographs From the Dawn of New Wave, Punk Rock & Hardcore”
Photographs by Rikki Ercoli, Curated by Jason Hamacher
“In The Beginning Photographs From the Dawn of New Wave, Punk Rock & Hardcore” represents reaction. Reaction to normalcy, apathy, sexuality, popularity, politics, fashion and most of all reaction to music. In the late 1970s, Philadelphia-born Rikki Ercoli found himself in the midst of the burgeoning punk scene. He felt something special happening and was inspired to participate. He borrowed a friend’s Nikon and dove headfirst into photography. He taught himself how to use a camera on, off and backstage with the likes of Sid Vicious, The Clash, Killing Joke, Blondie, Siouxsie Sioux, Bauhaus and nearly every underground group that came through the Philadelphia tri-state area.
Many of the bands he shot would go on to become household names. Ercoli captured the moment when their caustic expression triggered America’s disgruntled youth into cultural rebellion. The rebellion took root in small rooms, clubs and art spaces all over the country. These “alternative” spaces provided just enough leeway for ideas to take form and more importantly spread. These spaces were transient, but the ideas were permanent.
The exhibit is a visual feast of black and white portraits capturing some of the most notorious rock and roll icons from the late 1970s and early 1980s, including Sid Vicious, Misfits, Blondie, The Ramones, The Clash, Circle Jerks, Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Dead Boys, Dead Kennedys, The Exploited, GBH, Killing Joke, X, Richard Hell, Lydia Lunch and more. The exhibit currently on display at The Punk Rock Museum also includes a photo of Ercoli by Andy Warhol.
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, 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.