But Mick,

Ah I remember it well, even though I may have been two or three years late and many a miles away.. My first exposure to The Jam was shortly after they broke up. Many a depressing walks home from school, listening to Ian Curtis on my walkman. The Police were bordering mainstream with most of my fellow classmates. The Clash were key to me proving that punk rock could be just as fun as pop or hard rock was to many of the morons I had the displeasure of going through High School with. I was a huge Echo fan throughout their first run. The Smiths proved that a fag like me could lead/make great pop/rock music and heterosexuals could like it. And even though I didn’t come out of the closet, many years later. Morrisey had a impact on my life in a big way, as did the many androgynous acts that followed the initial wave. All that said, there’re were a few more creative cats like me in America who enjoyed the pain and pleasure these and many more bands of the times gave us. Every large city in America had good number of fans and this was reflected in the tours UK acts would do of the states. America was a different place back then and much smaller in so many ways. And last but not least, Mick! There still is great music from the UK and The States being made and places like Africa, Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and Poland (well maybe not Poland!). It’s a great time we live in for music. We have this thing called the internet to spread the word and places like DBIS were we can converse with other music fans about artists from the past, present and near future. So no sad emotions, found memories and tear in the beer from me. Props to the past and tip your hat to the future! There’s music to be made and ears willing to hear it, Gotta luv it!