It’s an even blacker day for the black-hearted. As a long time fan of the Cramps, I was saddened to learn of his death the other day. I had some photos from a Cramps show that I was going to post, but they were pre-digital camera and I can’t seem to find them in a timely manner. The only thing I have to offer instead is some mock ups of a Cramps skateboard that I was unsuccessful in getting the go ahead for manufacturing. The Cramps were still touring, and still putting on blistering live shows. Consider yourself lucky if you got to see one. Lux was a true original. Our thoughts go out to Poison Ivy.
P.S. Yeah I know I let Ron Asheton’s recent passing go without remark, but we’re losing guys like this more and more, and I can’t always bring myself to post it.
UPDATE: Added a video of the Cramps performing at the Napa State Mental Hospital in 1978. No joke. Plus Human Fly from Ugh, A Music War, and more
The Cramps – Live at Napa State Mental Hospital -1978
After you watch the original, check out the bizarre art project recreation.
The Cramps Human Fly from Ugh, A Music War
The Cramps – Bikini Girls with Machine Guns
The Cramps – Garbage Man
The Cramps – Goo Goo Muck
The Cramps – I Was a Teenage Werewolf
The Cramps – Creature from the black leather lagoon
The Cramps – Ultra twist
The Cramps – Like A Bad Girl Should
The Cramps – You Got Good Taste
Many of my 80’s era skate session warm ups were fueled by throwing Bad Music for Bad People on the turntable. I got as far as making a tentative contact with Lux via email through a mutual acquaintance, but I never heard back from him. These were proposed designs I made comps of a few years ago.
9 comments
jakeferranti
God bless his soul, such a nice young man.
I lost my virginity to “naked girl falling down the stairs”. And much prefered their “surfin bird” cover to The Ramones.
Kilwag
What about The Family Guy’s version?
jakeferranti
um,did you know, the bird, is the word?
thanks kilwag.
jakeferranti
brad
I remember him in that Urgh! movie b4 I was even old enough to go out- blew my ma ma ma ma mind…
Mac
Took me forever a couple of years ago to find Urgh!, and it was on VHS. I was watching it with my 13 year old. Gary Numan was weird, but The Cramps pretty much freaked her out. Nothing quite like ’em. Very sad about Lux.
heath
I saw the Cramps play for their “Fiends of Dope Island Tour.” Definitely a memorable event… Lux destroyed 3 of those heavy duty mic stands, and ran around stage with his dong out for the encore.
He is probably one favorite singers. Just listen to “Can’t Hardly Stand It,” and you’ll know why. Weirdo. Genius. RIP
houseofneil
OK here I go again with all of the “I saw them before you did” crap but this one is funny. I went to see The Police in June 1979, right after their first album was hitting big. Supporting them was, you guessed it, The Cramps. Imagine what a Police crowd was like in those days: mainly kids wanting to see new wave mixed with white reggae and teenage girls wanting to look at Sting. Imagine the horror then when The Cramps started playing their primitive ooze, and Lux started climbing on chairs and whipping his cock out. The crowd was openly hostile and throwing shit. I on the other hand was laughing my ass off. I’d never heard them before but could appreciate something different. I bought their first ep shortly after. Good times.
skaterhusseindave
And here I go with “I should have seen them in MI a couple years later” but I was homeless and broke, or I spent my $ on drugs, or my friends with cars didn’t have room for me, or I’m not sure what happened but I blew it. And I knew it.