On Tuesday, May 20th from 5pm-9pm the Fullerton Museum Center will be hosting the release of "Tearing Down the Orange Curtain: How Punk Rock Brought Orange County to the World" with authors Nate Jackson and Daniel Kohn. 

Tickets are $60 and includes a book, one beer garden drink ticket, access to the panel discussion with Nate Jackson and Daniel Kohn with special guest appearances, and admission to the gallery. Noodles from The Offspring will be joining as a special guest.

Beer Garden opens at 5:00pm
Panel Discussion opens at 6:00pm
Book Signing at 8:00pm

Seating is limited, so purchase your ticket today.


About the Book
The untold story of OC punk—the loud, rebellious force behind the ‘90s explosion of the Orange County music scene, featuring stories about legendary bands.

When it comes to punk communities across the world, the Orange County punk scene stands out as an undeniable trendsetter that helped define the sound and style of the rapidly evolving genre. From hard luck storytellers Social Distortion and multi-platinum sellers like The Offspring to cult heroes like The Adolescents and T.S.O.L., there’s much insight to gain from the story of this popular though often misunderstood music scene.   

In Tearing Down the Orange Curtain, journalists Nate Jackson and Daniel Kohn explore the trajectory of punk and ska from their humble beginnings to their peak popularity years, where their cultural impact could be felt in music around the world. Delving deep into the personal and professional lives of bands like Social Distortion, The Adolescents, The Offspring, and their ska counterparts No Doubt, Sublime, Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, and more, this book gives readers a deeper look into the very human stories of these musicians, many of whom struggled with acceptance, addiction, and brutal teenage years in suburbia.   

Through exclusive first-hand interviews, Tearing Down the Orange Curtain brings the 20-year period of OC punk and third-wave ska (1978-2000) to life, focusing specifically on the historical and musical roots of this creative explosion. Thought-provoking, meticulously researched, and refreshingly candid, this book presents a compelling narrative of how a suburban wasteland turned into a hub for rock-n roll culture, just over 30 miles away from the bright lights of LA.  


About Nate Jackson
Nate Jackson was born in Orange County and came up in the local punk scene, playing in bands and rumbling through the mosh pit in warehouses, DIY venues, and clubs across SoCal. He is currently the Deputy Editor of entertainment at the L.A. Times. He served as Music Editor for OC Weekly and was also a staff writer for the L.A. Times. His work has also been featured in the Village Voice, LA Weekly, VICE/Noisey, Dope Magazine, and others. He currently lives in Long Beach with his wife.

About Daniel Kohn
Daniel Kohn was born in New York City and grew up in Long Island but has long been mesmerized by Orange County punk rock. He lived in Southern California for nearly two decades, covering many of the artists featured in this book. Kohn’s work has been featured in SPIN, OC Weekly, Rolling Stone, Billboard, VICE, Noisey, SF Weekly, MLB, LA Weekly, and Village Voice. He currently lives in Nashville with his wife and son.

About Noodles From The Offspring
"Noodles" Wasserman is the lead guitarist and a founding member of the punk rock band The Offspring, known for his energetic performances and signature guitar style. He earned his nickname for frequently improvising—or “noodling”—on the guitar during rehearsals. A longtime California resident, Noodles remains an active force in the band while enjoying hobbies like surfing and collecting guitars.


Book Release & Panel Event for "Tearing Down the Orange Curtain: How Punk Rock Brought Orange County to the World"

Come join us to get into your punk spirit! This Creative Co-Op, we will be making custom denim patches. If you have your own denim jacket you would like to install studs and sew on patches please bring it!
Tickets are $30 and comes with one drink ticket and all supplies (except for jacket)
We hope to see you there!

Creative Co-Op: Punk Patches and Denim Jacket Install

Calling all treasure hunters and collectors, make a trip to FMC on Saturday, May 24th. Former collection pieces will be available for sale! We need to make room in our vaults, and several items no longer align with FMCA’s current curatorial focus. Proceeds from the sale will directly support the care, preservation, and growth of the museum’s collection.

We'll be sharing photos to highlight some of the items for sale on our instagram. Please support your local museum and stop by our special one day sale.

Doors open at 9am for FMC members. 10am for all access


Museum Vault Sale

The Fullerton Museum Center is turning up the volume with Punk OC: From the Streets of Suburbia, an electrifying new exhibition that dives deep into Orange County’s legendary punk rock roots. Opening Saturday, April 5, this dynamic showcase celebrates the bands, venues, and voices that defined a movement and inspired generations.   Orange County, and Fullerton in particular—has produced far more than its share of bands that made a difference, many with a sound that’s as rooted in OC as surf music was. Most of the 1970s punk scene originated in metropolises suffering from urban decay, poverty, and other issues that justified the anger and nihilism of the music it spawned. But what about suburban Orange County, with its manicured lawns, blue skies and beaches? One didn’t have to dig too deep beneath the turf to find that OC, too, had an underside of outcasts and disaffected youth, for whom this new homebrewed music meant the world.   Fullerton lacked that (urban) backdrop, but what it did have was a number of youths who had grown up feeling like outsiders, their hearts unmoved by manicured lawns, discotheques, sports, corporate rock, and the adult world in general. But in this small, quiet town, they managed to find each other.   - Jim Washburn, co-curator of Punk OC   Punk OC highlights Fullerton's influential punk scene—home to rebellious energy, fearless expression, and groundbreaking sounds. Visitors will experience the evolution of punk in Orange County and see how the local scene helped shape the national and global punk culture. From iconic venues to rare memorabilia, Punk OC captures the raw, unfiltered spirit of a community that made its own rules. 

Punk OC: From the Streets of Suburbia

From the spark of an idea to a permanent gallery, Strumming Through the Decades: Thirty Years with Fender will highlight how our permanent Fender gallery came to be. As well as provide a map of Fender landmarks around Fullerton, to help visitors mentally and physically walk in Leo's steps throughout our town. Photos, videos, mementos and testimonials by key Fullertonians are also featured, as the Fullerton Museum Center continues to help build Leo's legacy.

Strumming Through The Decades: 30 Years With Fender

Horizons Unbound: The Art of Aerial Drone Imagery from the Southern California Drone Film Festival