Good Night, Human Fly
Posted on February 5, 2009 – 2:52 PM | by OldManFoster
Lux interior, frontman for legendary psychopunk band The Cramps, died yesterday at 62.
Most punk fans know the basics… Interior and his wife, Poison Ivy Rorschach, formed the Cramps in NYC in 1976. Primitive, cheap, gaudy and simple, the Cramps were a blast of fresh air in an unsightly era dominated by disco, yacht rock and guitar heroes. Assisted by a revolving lineup of sidemen (including perhaps the world’s coolest drummer, stone-faced Nick Knox)Interior and Ivy mixed their influences (B movies, EC Comics, rockabilly and garage rock) into a potent concoction that instantly spawned the entire genre of trash rock.
What many people don’t know is that Sacramento was Cramps Ground Zero. Lux and Ivy met here (hitch-hiking) in 1973. The pair lived in an upstairs apartment at 21st and H, just north of the Weatherstone. And, unsurprisingly they were frequent visitors to Records on K Street, undoubtedly rummaging for treasure among the stacks. Eager to escape the heat and doldrums of early seventies Sacto, they moved to NYC, soon to find fame and fortune.
Here’s a bit of the Cramps at their best…
3 Responses to “Good Night, Human Fly”
By beckler on Feb 5, 2009 | Reply
I’m glad I got to see them live at one of their Halloween shows in SF. It was great. Poison Ivy just played stoicly, showing off her still-rockin bod in a catsuit, and Lux was a total wildman. He climbed all over the Fillmore (Warfield? can’t remember) and fans yanked down his vinyl pants. One enthusiastic fan even attempted to give him a hand job. They did an epic, filthy version of Surfin’ Bird that rivaled the original. Every night when I hear the ringing in my right ear I’m reminded of that show.
By KLJ on Feb 5, 2009 | Reply
Yeah, he was something else.
I have two dents in my nose and one of them is named after The Cramps, earned when I stood too close to an enthusiastic, bouncy, short fan.
The Fly and I are tore up about it. Working on a suitable tribute.
By Ol' Man Foster on Feb 5, 2009 | Reply
I saw the cramps a few times– always an amazing show. I can vividly remember the first time I heard them- my friend Tiffany (at the time one of Foothill High’s 3 punk rockers) played Bad Music For Bad People… that was about 1984, and it was a revelation.
they were definitely an inspiration when we were putting the Trouble Makers together.