Speaking of musical legends from which bland performers like Beyonce and Hilary Duff could learn a thing or two, we got word today of the heart-related death of Erick Lee Purkhiser, better known as Lux Interior, lead singer of the iconic punk band, The Cramps.
Ohio born Purkhiser and wife, Kristy Wallace, who became "Poison" Ivy Rorschach, met in Sacramento and made their way to New York City by 1975. They founded The Cramps and became a part of the flourishing punk scene, most notably at legendary rock clubs CBGB's and Max's Kansas City. Their lyrics paired their love of B-movie camp with ferocious rockabilly and surf instrumentation, and their sound has been described as horror-punk, trash rock, or most notably, psychobilly. With their gender bending costumes and outrageous live performances, they became one of the first acts to realize the potential of punk rock as theater and spectacle.
The Cramps opened for The Police on a major tour of Britain in 1979 and reached its critical peak in the early '80s with albums, "Psychedelic Jungle" and "Songs The Lord Taught Us". The band never achieved commercial success, but maintained a loyal fringe audience for over 30 years.
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I remember when I first saw Todd Haynes' "Velvet Goldmine" that I thought Ewan McGregor's stage persona was most closely patterned on a cross between Iggy Pop and Lux Interior.
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God, do we here in the East Village miss The Cramps! As the Pinkberries and pilates studios take over the once thriving arts scene in the neighborhood, we need The Cramps more than ever. If nothing else, you guys could scare away the ridiculous Japanese tourists who walk up and down St. Mark's Place looking for the famous punk scene which, sadly, no longer exists.
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But we'll always remember fondly what The Cramps gave us, and the spirit of rock and roll that they pushed to new boundaries by imagination and sheer force of will. Below are a couple of videos for just a small taste.
This first video starts at 25 seconds in... give it time, it's well worth it!
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