In a surprising discovery, Brian Gorsegner unearthed Johnny Ramone's original guitar case, adding a significant piece to his punk rock collection.
During a meticulous search of a Queens home, Gorsegner located the long-lost punk artifact, New York Post reported.
Brian Gorsegner, a music booking agent by day, transforms into an urban archeologist during his off-hours. Over the past two decades, Gorsegner has dedicated his life to scouring through forgotten basements and dusty attics to rescue pieces of punk rock history. His pursuits are bolstered by connections within the punk community who share leads on potential finds.
Gorsegner's recent triumph occurred in November when an old NYC rocker, who had once mingled with influential punk bands of the '70s and '80s, tipped him off about a deteriorating house in Queens. Armed with his usual tools, including a crowbar, he ventured into the decrepit property, motivated by the prospect of discovering hidden treasures from a bygone era.
His exploration paid off. Tucked away amid the rubble and decaying record sleeves, Gorsegner uncovered a guitar case with significant ties to punk rock royalty, Johnny Ramone. Known from a famous 1977 photograph by David Godlis depicting Ramone's gear on the stage of CBGBs, the case was immediately recognizable to the seasoned collector.
Experts confirmed the authenticity of the guitar case by comparing it to the distinct tear in the leatherette covering visible in Godlis's photo. This was no ordinary find; the case had housed Johnny Ramone's favorite guitar, a piece so iconic that it fetched nearly one million dollars at a 2021 auction.
"I'd seen it before. The photo has their gear all laid out on the stage. And they have these like, really great looking, hardware store-like stencils on them. So I knew as soon as I saw the case that it was one of those original cases," Gorsegner recalled, his voice tinged with the excitement of a true collector.
This discovery was more than just another addition to his collection. For Gorsegner, it represented a link to a passionate youth immersed in punk music and culture. "When you peel poster off a telephone pole on the Bowery in 1978, that’s not supposed to still be around," he mused on the fleeting nature of these artifacts.
"I discovered punk when I was 13 and I started playing in bands. It became my entire life. It saved me in high school. Like, I don’t know that I would have made it through a lot of stuff if it wasn’t for those bands and that scene," Gorsegner shared, reflecting on the profound impact punk rock had on his formative years.
Alongside his artifact hunts, Gorsegner involves his family, turning trips across the country into dual-purpose adventures—half vacation, half treasure hunt. Over the years, he has found items ranging from fan mail addressed to Dave Grohl to early Beastie Boys posters and even metal spikes from Misfits' leather jackets.
Much of his collection eventually reaches museums or educational institutions, though Gorsegner admits he occasionally sells pieces. When he does, he offers discounts to young enthusiasts, aiming to ignite the same passion for music history in the next generation.
"They were these bands that nobody cared about. And they were making fliers at their high school Xerox machine, and they were screen printing their T-shirts," he explained, highlighting how punk was rooted in DIY ethos from the beginning. His method of collecting, respectful and earnest, has earned him trust and respect within the community.
"I found if you pay people right and you treat people well, and if you’re just genuinely enthusiastic about whatever it is you’re out there doing—and not doing it to make a buck or whatever other slimy reason that tons of people do this kind of stuff—you know, word travels, and you build relationships," Gorsegner stated, revealing his philosophy behind his successful endeavors.
Despite the challenges and the years spent hunting, Gorsegner remains committed to the thrill and joy of the chase. "But that Ramones case will be a difficult thing for me to cut loose. Largely because of its historical significance and the fact that the Ramones are the greatest band of all time, and everyone should agree with that. But also because of the thrill of finding it. It’s not just something that I bought on eBay. It’s something that I like to find in the wild. And that memory, it’s like getting that present that you’re hoping to get Christmas morning. You never forget that," he concluded, his eyes lighting up at the memory of his most cherished find.
