{"id":698,"date":"2009-02-05T01:16:40","date_gmt":"2009-02-05T08:16:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.louielouie.net\/blog\/?p=698"},"modified":"2009-02-05T01:16:40","modified_gmt":"2009-02-05T08:16:40","slug":"rip-lux-interior-of-the-cramps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.louielouie.net\/blog\/?p=698","title":{"rendered":"RIP: Lux Interior of The Cramps"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another rock star has left the building…<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Lux Interior<\/strong>, leader and singer of The Cramps<\/strong> died Wednesday morning (February 4) due to an existing heart condition, according to a statement from the band’s publicist. He was 62 years old.<\/p>\n

The Cramps were an American garage band that fused 70’s punk rock with 50’s rockabilly. Formed in 1973 in Sacramento, California by the husband-wife team of Lux Interior and guitarist Poison Ivy,<\/strong> this band moved to New York, where they became part of the CBGB early punk rock scene.<\/p>\n

Among other things, they were considered one of pioneers of the “psychobilly” movement, performed at the Napa State Mental Hospital (released on video), provided some music for the movie “The Return of the Living Dead,” and paved the way for others in the rock-horror-blues hybrid mix that also included Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, the Sonics, the Dwarves<\/strong>, and the Fuzztones<\/strong>, to name but a few.<\/p>\n

One of the songs the Cramps used to do was a song called “Garbage Man,” which borrowed heavily from LOUIE LOUIE. Check out this clip, and you’ll see what I mean…<\/p>\n

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One thing I loved about the Cramps was they way they embraced obscure 50’s-60’s rock music into their own, either as cover songs, or using a certain degree of artistic license to reinvent this type of music. I used to love to collect the “Born Bad<\/strong>” CD & LP series, subtitled as “Songs the Cramps Taught Us<\/em>.” I believe the CDs and LPs are long out-of-print, but sometimes still available via Amazon.<\/p>\n