I never became a fan of The Cramps and the whole shockabilly aesthetic, but I’m sure recently deceased frontman Lux Interior was loved by some of you. For that reason alone, Lux was a great…man.
The first time I heard The Cramps doing “Surfin’ Bird” I was intrigued, as might be expected of any teenage rock fan. Then I heard more; saw the whole Lux Interior schtick documented in a punk movie or two; and lived through my town’s local punk scene, which featured a singer for two related bands whose entire schtick was based on Interior’s Poor Man’s Iggy schtick. Kids, when your Mom tells you, “You don’t know where that microphone’s been!” it may not be out of the question to wonder if she was a Cramps fan in college.
NEXT: Rock Town Hall’s Official Eulogy…
I love the Cramps’ first EP and then some of the cuts on each of the next two albums. I also think they came across very well live, and several of their lives releases are among their most enjoyable music. I mean, I don’t think of them as one of the greats,but they actually played rock and roll, and well, long after it should have been dead.
I also love that EP (and have been meaning to buy Songs the Lord Taught Us for years now). Chilton really knew had to accentuate the band’s strengths with the weird, swampy production.
I saw the Cramps way back when, and they really brought it live. Bryan Gregory was already gone, replaced by Kid Congo Powers, but they still had Nick Knox on the drums. He was the maddest man in show business. I don’t know what was pissing him off, but after every song he’d push himself away from the drums and walk around glowering at the band.
This kind of psychobilly stuff is really not my thing, but the Cramps really were on to something, at least that night. The Panther Burns opened, and by comparison Tav Falco just came off as a complete poser.
Lux was 60 years old when he died, and he’d kept at it all these years, which is pretty amazing.
I’d just like to say in all seriousness, as a comedian, I was a fan of The Cramps. The whole bit about writing Lux off as a poor man’s Iggy & the use of the term “psychobilly” betrays an ignorance of the band’s music & performance style (take a look at some performances on YouTube. Doesn’t seem like an Iggy knock-off to me). They considered themselves a Rock & Roll band. Period. Lux & Ivy were/are ultimate fans & proponents of the music in it’s most undiluted form, & helped bring to light many obscure performers & songs that would have faded into complete obscurity otherwise. And live, they couldn’t be beat, no matter which incarnation (apart from the one documented in ‘Urgh! A Music War’, which featured a co-guitarist who brought nothing to the table, & was only in the band for about a month). Consistently rocking & entertaining, which, I believe, is the mark of a great live band.
For these reasons, Lux WAS a great man.
bobbybittman, welcome to the fray! I appreciate your adding to this obit – and for giving me a hard time for my views. So be it. I’ve read and heard some other inspiring words on the man’s life and works. Undoubtedly Lux was GREAT…man.