Long-running punk label Hopeless Records has been celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with a covers series named after the label’s iconic Hopelessly Devoted To You compilation, and they’ll also be bringing the traveling Hopeless Museum Exhibit to Las Vegas’ The Punk Rock Museum, timed with this year’s When We Were Young festival in the same city.
The exhibit debuted at The Valley Relics Museum in Los Angeles and then came to NYC in June and Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in August, and the Rock Hall also launched a semi-permanent exhibit dedicated to the label, which will be on display indefinitely. The exhibit includes over 1,000 artifacts from over 150 Hopeless artists, including All Time Low’s first gold single plaque, Synyster Gates’ guitar from Avenged Sevenfold’s 2002 album Waking The Fallen, lyrics from The Wonder Years’ 2011 album Suburbia I’ve Given You All And Now I’m Nothing, and much more.
The exhibit opens at The Punk Rock Museum on October 17 and there’s an opening party that goes from 8PM to midnight. The description of the party reads:
Attendees will have the opportunity to mingle with key figures from Hopeless Records and enjoy surprise appearances from Hopeless artists in the Pennywise Garage, a unique space within the museum dedicated to iconic punk moments. Hopeless flash will be available in The Shop, offering attendees the chance to get quick tattoos inspired by the label’s legacy. Throughout the night, live streams will capture the event for TPRM’s 150,000+ followers, and idobi will host giveaways with artists and guests, offering fans at home a chance to celebrate with the label.
According to the poster for the event, you’ll also get the chance to “meet” The Wonder Years’ mascot, Hank the Pigeon.
Hopeless Records Founder and President Louis Posen said, “Punk Rock is the community that allowed me and Hopeless to get started, grow, and thrive over these past 30 years. It’s more than fitting that our 30th-anniversary museum exhibit will have its grand finale at The Punk Rock Museum. Fat Mike, the founder of the museum, was the first person who trusted me with their music, letting me direct a music video for the NOFX song ‘Bob’ and then helping me get Hopeless off the ground. We can’t thank Mike, The Punk Rock Museum and the punk community enough for their long-time support and love.”
Fat Mike adds, “I know this might sound a little cheesy, but I am very excited about this exhibit! Why? Well, because I kinda helped Louis start Hopeless. I gave him all of Fat Wreck Chords radio contacts and press contacts and I even gave him a band. 88 Fingers turned out to be their biggest record that year. I’m just so happy to see the success of Hopeless after 30 years… maybe I might end up doing business with them someday… you never know.”
Check out The Punk Rock Museum’s website for more upcoming happenings at TPRM, and catch multiple Hopeless artists and alumni at When We Were Young, including Taking Back Sunday, Silverstein, Neck Deep, The Wonder Years, Bayside, and We Are The In Crowd.
The ongoing Hopelessly Devoted To You covers series has recently featured The Wonder Years covering Thrice, Sweet Pill covering The Wonder Years, Sincere Engineer covering 88 Fingers Louie, and more, and you can check those out below…
