Heighten Your Holiday Horror Hoopla by Cruisin’ with the Crazy Crooners of Kitsch, The Cramps!

By William Wax

It’s everybody who’s anybody’s favorite time of the year! Halloween! And if you’re looking to pad that sad playlist of Boris Pickett and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, may I suggest to you, The Cramps.

Who, or What, are The Cramps?

I’m always on the prowl for some new, weird nugget of rock. I like to dig deep and find Lord knows what in Lord knows where. I’m looking for that nostalgic feeling I had the first time I heard something like “No More Hot Dogs” by Hasil Adkins… which may either be about killing his lady for cooking too many hot dogs or it may be a sexual innuendo I’m not familiar with. The point is, when you dig long enough, all you find is deeper and deeper Kitsch. But the love had to start somewhere.

We can’t overlook those who built the weird roadside attractions, the big kahunas, the memaws of rock and pawpaws of punk. The John Waters’s, the Vampiras and Svengoolies, and somewhere in the pantheon of “weird as lifestyle” is a huge statue of The Cramps.

The Cramps emerged from the underbelly of punk rock, which is saying something. But, they grew to be an enduring staple of both the punk and rockabilly scenes. Known for their ghoulish aesthetic, primal sound, and the inimitable duo of Lux Interior and Poison Ivy, The Cramps created a visceral assault on the senses that continues to inspire fans worldwide. Whether you were captivated by the animated corpse with game show vocals that was Lux Interior, or drawn to the surf-infused, hypnotic riffs of Poison Ivy, The Cramps were unlike anything else in the punk world. With their combination of kitsch, horror, and rockabilly, they crafted a sonic niche that left a lasting love bite on the music scene. But where did they come from, and why are they so pivotal to the development of punk? Let’s dive into the life and times of The Cramps.

The Birth of The Cramps: A Punk Rock Love Story

The formation of The Cramps began when Lux Interior (born Erick Lee Purkhiser) and Poison Ivy (Kristy Marlana Wallace) crossed paths in 1972 in Sacramento, California. It wasn’t love at first sight, but rather a mutual obsession with thrift store treasures, obscure rockabilly records, and all things strange and bizarre. The two were drawn together by a fascination with the past; 1950s culture, horror comics, and the raw, unpolished sound of early rock and roll.

By 1976, they moved to New York City, where punk rock was in full bloom. The Ramones were tearing through sets at CBGB, Patti Smith was fusing poetry and punk, and the raw energy of acts like Suicide and Television electrified the underground. Into this scene stepped The Cramps, a band that brought a different flavor to the punk movement; a blend of garage rock, surf, and a deeply embedded influence of rockabilly. The Cramps’ aesthetic drew from kitsch horror, fetishizing B-movies and rock’s seediest elements, but their sound was no joke. Their raw, stripped-down revival of rockabilly was a deliberate rejection of polished, commercial music.

Poison Ivy: The Guitar Goddess Behind the Music

At the core of The Cramps’ sound was Poison Ivy, a woman whose stage presence and guitar playing commanded attention. Her sharp, reverb-drenched riffs became the backbone of the band’s music. Born in San Bernardino, California, Ivy grew up surrounded by music. Her early influences came from her grandfather, a violinist, and later from her older brother’s record collection. Ivy was particularly inspired by Link Wray, a godfather of surf and garage rock guitar. His 1958 instrumental hit “Rumble” profoundly influenced her playing style. She admired the primal energy and rebellious attitude Wray brought.

Her inspiration didn’t stop there. The bold fashion sense of The Duchess, a guitarist who performed with Bo Diddley, ignited something in Ivy. She famously paid homage to The Duchess by donning gold pants, a signature look that would become part of The Cramps’ visual mystique. Poison Ivy was more than a guitarist, she was the mastermind behind much of The Cramps’ material. She had an amazing ability to weave together the band’s eclectic musical influences into something both familiar and frightening.

Lux Interior: The Voice from the Crypt

While Poison Ivy shaped The Cramps’ sound, Lux Interior embodied the band’s wild, unpredictable energy. Growing up in Akron, Ohio, Lux was obsessed with 1950s culture, from the early sounds of rockabilly to horror hosts like Cleveland’s Ghoulardi, who became an early influence. Lux loved the rebellious spirit of the era, and he saw in rockabilly something dark, primal, and urgent; all elements he would later inject into his performances with The Cramps.

His onstage persona was unlike anything punk had seen, again that is saying a lot. Decked out in tight leather or fetish gear, Lux would contort his body, scream, moan, and crawl across the stage like some kind of unholy Elvis. His voice, equal parts seductive and terrifying, was perfect for delivering The Cramps’ twisted lyrics, which ranged from the macabre to the absurd. Songs like “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” and “Garbageman” became instant punk classics..

Defining the Genre: The Cramps’ Unique Sound

The Cramps weren’t easy to categorize. They were often lumped into the emerging punk scene in New York, but their music owed more to rockabilly and garage rock than to the sneering, fast-paced style of many of their contemporaries. The band’s 1980 debut album, Songs The Lord Taught Us, laid the foundation for their distinctive sound. It featured a mix of covers and originals that paid tribute to the twisted Americana they adored.

Their music was raw, often minimalistic, and dripping with sexual tension. Ivy’s hypnotic guitar lines were backed by a relentless rhythm section that seemed more interested in a quality vamp and aggressive energy. This blend of retro styles with punk attitude birthed what many now call “psychobilly”.

The Cramps weren’t retro for the sake of nostalgia. They were pushing boundaries, subverting genres, and creating something fresh and exciting. They embodied the DIY ethos of punk but embraced the raw passion of early rock and roll, making them pioneers of a style that countless bands would later emulate. Which is only fair. The Cramps personified the idea of art being a filter of influences. Where many have tried to hide their influences, The Cramps wore each as a badge, as a medal that had been achieved in the war of the weirdos.

A Gig Like No Other: The Napa State Hospital Show

If one event epitomizes the anarchic spirit of The Cramps, it’s their infamous 1978 performance at Napa State Hospital, a mental institution in California. On June 13, 1978, The Cramps played one of the strangest gigs in punk rock history, performing for patients in a mental asylum. The band considered it a testament to their commitment to outcasts, the misunderstood, and those society had pushed to the margins.

The performance, which was captured on film, showed Lux in his element, rolling on the floor, belting out the band’s deranged anthems while the audience, a mix of confused and enthralled patients, looked on. It was a performance that cemented their reputation as a band that embraced the weird and the wild. And, no joke, there were rumors that an inmate or two escaped onto the grounds during the show, but as of now I can’t substantiate that for sure.

Enduring Legacy: The Cramps’ Influence on Music and Culture

The Cramps’ influence on music and culture is undeniable. They were a pivotal part of the 1970s New York punk scene, rubbing shoulders with acts like The Ramones and Patti Smith. Yet, they were always outsiders, carving their own path through a mix of rockabilly revivalism, horror aesthetics, and punk attitude.

Their sound paved the way for countless other bands, from psychobilly acts like The Reverend Horton Heat to gothic inspired acts like AFI. The Cramps’ mix of humor, horror, and rock was an intoxicating cocktail that appealed to anyone who felt like they didn’t quite fit into mainstream culture.

Even fifty years later, The Cramps’ music remains relevant. Their tracks continue to appear in movie soundtracks and TV shows, their aesthetic influencing everything from fashion to art. Poison Ivy’s minimalist, no-frills guitar playing has inspired generations of musicians, proving that sometimes less is more. Lux Interior’s manic stage presence set the bar for what a frontman could be, influencing everyone from Boris the Sprinkler to Jack White.