After being pretty lax about it, Thrasher has finally gotten around to posting the last of the first 12 issues of Thrasher Magazine. I suggest you get on over there and get them all before they disappear. They are kind of hidden as it is. If you are going to download them, go with the Hi-res pdf versions instead of the jpeg slide shows. You can really blow them up big and read all the tiny captions. These old issues are great to flip through. They are full of lots of photos of skate celebrities looking like little kids, wearing goofy fashions, etc. Take a look at the kinds of coverage and editorial slant. These early Thrashers are more like Concrete Wave with an attitude than the Thrasher of today. There’s even a product review of a freestyle board where the uncredited author wonders why more hardcore-types aren’t into freestyle. It’s also interesting to watch the magazine become a little more polished with each issue. Check out the early heaviest advertisers, it’s not who you might guess. It’s fun on every page. Mofo chronicles a Big Boys tour over multiple issues, old spots, strange product ads, contest results, Fascinating stuff. I was kind of surprised they did this in the first place, but now that they’ve started, why stop? I’d like to see the first 5 years up there, at least. It won’t cost them anything. All it takes is an intern with a scanner. Someone start a petition. Heck, I’d even re-up my subscription if that’s what it takes.
2 comments
brad
I remember a friend of mine got one in like ’86 and it was huge, like an issue of Interview magazine or something….
mc
At one point they were selling off those old big issues. I got mine.