Possibly the greatest live show on the planet Earth was that of Americaâs west coast punk mentalists The Cramps. I was badly injured after watching these lunatics at Londonâs Astoria (now non existent) in 2006. Iâd say their pits were just as hectic as Rage Against The Machineâs, even though both groups are the solar opposite of each other, the impact of their performanceâs are not far off the mark of one another! âWhatâs Inside A Girl?â from their mid-80âs period has always been my favourite single by the band, along with their earlier stomper 'Sunglasses After Dark'. Itâs probably their catchiest tune; displaying blues pop hooks and wild wailing treble induced vocals backed by nut-a-billy rhythms and elvis-esque graveyard guitar mayhem. They unleashed a beast that was beyond unique and became a force to be reckoned with. Lux Interior definitely earned the title as the maddest frontman of all time sided by his partner of crime, the menacing beauty that is Poison Ivy. Two wild and mystic creatures with a style and delivery like no other, all whilst self-claiming to be from other worlds! Along with cockney rivals The Meteors, they were the true innovators of psychobilly, though are much responsible for the birthing of such greats as My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, and The Parkinsons whom always praised the group in interviews. The thing I loved most about them as well as their psychotic sound and image, was their fanzines that came with their early vinyl releases, something that was later replicated by the likes of bands such as The Horrors. Itâs every music fans dream to receive an insight into a group via their own zine. If more musicians of today took this same approach the world of sound and expression would be a much more interesting place. Itâs now nearly ten years since Luxâs death and itâs probably true to say a world without punk rockâs greatest pioneers is a dull one at best, but the music and their legacy will always remain. CRAMPS FOREVER.
