Cramps, The
Entry updated 23 October 2023. Tagged: Music.
A band combining rock'n'roll and punk, a sound they described as rockabilly voodoo, who inspired many subsequent bands (particularly those in the Psychobilly genre). Formed in 1976 by vocalist Lux Interior (1946-2009), real name Erick Lee Purkhiser, and guitarist Poison Ivy (1953- ), real name Kristy Marlana Wallace; this pair was the main creative force and ever-present until they disbanded in 2009, following Interior's death. Other key members included guitarist 1976-1980, Bryan Gregory (1951-2001), real name Gregory Beckerleg, and drummer 1977-1991, Nick Knox (1953-2018), real name Nicholas George Stephanoff. The band's heyday was 1978-1981, with the early singles – collected in the compilation EP Gravest Hits (1979) – and the albums Songs the Lord Taught Us (1980) and Psychedelic Jungle (1981). This era saw them not troubling with a bassist, relying on two guitars and a drum kit for their sound. Subsequent albums are good – particularly Smell of Female (1983) and A Date with Elvis (1986) – but do not really expand on the formula.
There were many rock'n'roll and garage rock covers in their repertoire, including Jimmy Stewart's "Rock on the Moon" from 1959 – "Well, I built my rocket and we'll have a race, we'll be the first to rock inta outer space" (see Moon; Rockets). But Interior/Ivy were talented songwriters and their exceptional second single, "The Human Fly" (1978) set the scene: "Well I'm a human fly, I-I said F-L-Y, I say "buzz buzz buzz", a-and it's just becuz I-I'm a human fly ... Cuz I'm a reborn maggot using germ warfare." The Fly (1958) was possibly an inspiration.
Though meaning in lyrics usually comes second to mood and attitude, "Mystery Plane" from Songs The Lord Taught Us does have a narrative: "My Daddy drives a UFO, drops me off and then he goes, leaves me on this mystery plane, but he'll be back for me again. Now I just can't identify with this world so I don't try – square pegs don't fit in round holes and I can't fit into these clothes. My daddy's unidentified, my mom says I just appeared inside" (see Exogamy; UFOs). As well as the aforementioned "Rock on the Moon", the album also has the Interior/Ivy compositions "I Was A Teenage Werewolf" (see Werewolves) and "Zombie Dance" (see Zombies).
A track on Psychedelic Jungle is "Beautiful Gardens", whose lyrics include "Vampire lesbos are after me! ... Ride the void to outer space, pull my eyeballs right out of my face! A world of leatherwork and rubber ashtrays. Beautiful gardens and all kinds of games" (see Vampires); the erotic horror film Vampyros Lesbos (1971) might also be referenced. Also on the album are "Voodoo Idol" and "Caveman" (see Apes as Human). Provided the listener does not pay attention to its pronunciation, "Kizmiaz" from A Date With Elvis might be deemed a vision of a Utopian Lost World ("It lies on the horizon in a golden haze, no one believes their eyes the legend says, held hypnotized in a frozen gaze on Kizmiaz"). Stay Sick! includes "The Creature From The Black Leather Lagoon" ("I'm the creature from the black leather lagoon, I'm a beautiful monster from outer space, too") – see The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) – and "Journey to the Center of a Girl" ("Space begins to curve, light begins to twist; across a thigh of satin and through a veil of mist, there's a girl's neverworld lookin' for a kiss ... I'm glidin' through this friction like some science fiction thrill, getting off in these dimensions where time itself stands still") (see Sex; if taken literally, see also Dimensions; Physics; Time). Look Mom No Head! has "Two Headed Sex Change" ("I'm a two headed sex change from outer space") (see Aliens). "God Monster" from Big Beat from Badsville manages to include "Aztec mummy ... switchblade enforcer of the astral swirl ... God monsterman, god damn atomic vampire ... I'm the space probe from Venus to the screaming unknown" (see Gods and Demons; Monsters; Venus).
Needless to say, despite the sf references, the lyrics may also be read as metaphorical. Though "Mystery Plane" might refer to alienation, most concern the band's main fixations: Sex, Horror and sleaze. [SP]
works (selected)
- Gravest Hits (EP) (USA: Illegal, 1979)
- Songs the Lord Taught Us (Album) (USA: Illegal, 1980)
- Psychedelic Jungle (Album) (USA: I.R.S., 1981)
- Off the Bone (Compilation) (USA: Illegal, 1983)
- Smell of Female (Live album) (USA: Big Beat, 1983)
- A Date with Elvis (Album) (USA: Big Beat 1986)
- Stay Sick! (Album) (USA: Enigma 1990)
- Look Mom No Head! (Album) (USA: Enigma, 1991)
- Flamejob (Album) (USA: The Medicine Label, 1994)
- Big Beat from Badsville (Album) (USA: Epitaph, 1997)
- Fiends of Dope Island (Album) (USA: Vengeance, 2003)
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