This old issue of Time magazine -- The Tribes of Britain

How big of an impact did punk rock make back then? Well, look who made the cover of Time magazine in October of 1983.

I remember when I first saw this issue of Time magazine. It held me in thrall. These were my punk and new wave days and the former really held sway with me. My folks used to subscribe to Time magazine and I immediately appropriated it. My parents though -- not because of the cover story -- got it back so I purchased my own. And that is what you see in this picture. I saved it all these years! For the past 34 years to be exact. 

Reading the entire issue, I devoured every word. More than my school textbooks I guess. Hahaha. When my mom had a photo taken with some punks in London around this time when she was there for work, I was insanely jealous. I wanted to go to London. It became a dream. But I wasn't sure what I wanted to be -- a punk, a Mod, or a Rockabilly teddy boy. Hahahaha. But I guess, I wanted to be a Mod because they drove cool Vespas or Lambrettas. 

The other week, I had a long conversation with Arnold Morales. And like me, this particular issue captured his imagination. It was common ground for us as we spoke of this ad what we read.

Reading this again after all these years, I am still fascinated. The cool thing is I have been to London on several occasions. I still don't have that picture with London punks though.