So fucking bummed.
― Ozman Bin Laden (Raw Patrick), Thursday, 5 February 2009 00:48 (4 years ago) Permalink
i would not have guessed he was closin in on 60 ...so goooooooooooooooooooddd....so wrong...i will sorely miss u luxxxxy...u were a great inspiration to me..even tho i canty play surfgoth i loved so much cramps..it hurts///oooo eeee oowww wahhhhh
― danbunny, Thursday, 5 February 2009 00:55 (4 years ago) Permalink
I was thinking today that "Smell of Female" IS a really great title. maybe one day I'll actually listen to the band, also
― Ivan, Thursday, 5 February 2009 00:56 (4 years ago) Permalink
this fucking sucks. rest ye well in rock god heaven, Lux.
― sleeve, Thursday, 5 February 2009 00:57 (4 years ago) Permalink
― sleeve, Thursday, 5 February 2009 00:59 (4 years ago) Permalink
:(
― resident advice whore (haitch), Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:00 (4 years ago) Permalink
when people use that whole "sounds like music from another planet" trope, the first thing i think of is Bad Music For Bad People, which really did completely mindfuck me the first time i heard it. RIP you awesome weird dude.
― born of nililism and iconoclasm (John Justen), Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:01 (4 years ago) Permalink
one of my fondest adolescent purchases was a yellow-vinyl 7" of "i ain't nuthin but a gorehound" b/w "weekend on mars".
― paper plans (tipsy mothra), Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:07 (4 years ago) Permalink
I saw him get blown by 15-year old girl once. Even still, R.I.P.
― NewBeefLover, Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:17 (4 years ago) Permalink
I was all like-"Isn't dude married"?
― NewBeefLover, Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:23 (4 years ago) Permalink
Shit, didn't mean to quell the ass-kiss fest. Just sayin'.
― NewBeefLover, Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:29 (4 years ago) Permalink
hell, i would have blown him when i was 15. he was hottt. and a rock god.
i will see you in heaven/hell luxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx!!!!!!!!!!!!!
― scott seward, Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:37 (4 years ago) Permalink
He was definitely enjoying it. Still,that's some reverse NAMBLA shit.
― NewBeefLover, Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:39 (4 years ago) Permalink
Shut up.
― sleeve, Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:46 (4 years ago) Permalink
Haha. Yeah buddy sure. Anything for you.
― NewBeefLover, Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:51 (4 years ago) Permalink
But like I was saying...Lux was getting sucked hardcore by an underage gal. Shoulda seen his face. Ecstasy.
― NewBeefLover, Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:52 (4 years ago) Permalink
man i love the "ban from thread" button.
― born of nililism and iconoclasm (John Justen), Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:54 (4 years ago) Permalink
I liked some of their songs. That Tear It Up video is funny for its use of crowd shots. Beyond that, I guess this is one you leave to the oldies: kitsch-shock-Elvis never meant shit to me. But the more retro-shock perversion, the better, I guess. I'm just wary of having to pay homage over the next 10 years to all the class of 78-85. We did the 60s rock-legacy things in the 90s, and this is no more fun.
― paulhw, Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:54 (4 years ago) Permalink
haha I just asked esoj to ban from thread, thanks JJ.
― sleeve, Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:55 (4 years ago) Permalink
this is such such such a bummer.
― s1ocki, Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:57 (4 years ago) Permalink
We did the 60s rock-legacy things in the 90s, and this is no more fun.
you'll get to pay homage to yr own heroes, give it time.
― paper plans (tipsy mothra), Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:58 (4 years ago) Permalink
gonna crank this shit forthwith
― goole, Thursday, 5 February 2009 01:58 (4 years ago) Permalink
good quote from Kurt/Yukki of The Repellents, Bullet Lavolta, Kustomized, etc:
He basically embodied everything Great about Rock & Roll: Amazing influences, taste, sense of humor, reverence, irreverence, strength, madness, mysticism, sexuality, wild abandon, excess, living after hours, horror, psychedelia, rockabilly, garage...I am truly a Child of The Cramps.
― sleeve, Thursday, 5 February 2009 02:00 (4 years ago) Permalink
x-post. Yeah, sorry if that came across dickish. I guess since the '02 Strummer thing, I'm just saddened by how young some of these people are dying. Anyway, I'll lend this thread back to those who know the music 100000x better than I do.
― paulhw, Thursday, 5 February 2009 02:00 (4 years ago) Permalink
I could have sworn the last time he played Chicago he got in trouble for biting someone.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 5 February 2009 02:02 (4 years ago) Permalink
Top Ten Desert Island Disc
RIP
― leavethecapital, Thursday, 5 February 2009 02:08 (4 years ago) Permalink
Late to this but -- a damn shame. Another one I should have caught live at some point before it was too late. RIP.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 5 February 2009 03:08 (4 years ago) Permalink
Rest in peace, Lux.
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 5 February 2009 03:15 (4 years ago) Permalink
RIP Lux. Glad I got to see you live, WOW.
― WmC, Thursday, 5 February 2009 03:19 (4 years ago) Permalink
I repeat...
The most beautiful and scary-looking man in all of rock 'n' roll! Ever!
― Arthur, Tuesday, 7 May 2002 00:00 (6 years ago)
Also a lovely person. I'm so sad. Poor Ivy.
― Arthur, Thursday, 5 February 2009 03:22 (4 years ago) Permalink
some friends of mine went to see them at the Jockey Club in Ohio back in 1986 and the club RAN OUT OF BEER halfway through their set.
― sleeve, Thursday, 5 February 2009 03:57 (4 years ago) Permalink
yeah woah. so bummed i never saw them. he and ivy were such a valuable resource at the time for turning people onto stuff - playing charlie jackson on the radio, digging up wild old doo wop etc. i love the cramps covers, like on how to make a monster. hearing him sing i can't hardly stand it, he actually sounds like he looks.
― schlump, Thursday, 5 February 2009 04:29 (4 years ago) Permalink
This is terrible. The Cramps show I saw at the Warner Theater in DC in '79 was amazing as were some later gigs I saw. Ian M. and Guy from Fugazi and countless others in the DC scene were all so blown away by their live show. They also did gigs with DC rockabilly cats Tex Rubinowitz and the Bad Boys that impressed some other folks who might not have been considered their prime audience.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 5 February 2009 04:43 (4 years ago) Permalink
from the mtv news obit by James Montgomery and Jem Aswad http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604336/20090204/story.jhtml
Born Erick Lee Purkhiser, Interior started the Cramps in 1972 with guitarist Poison Ivy (born Kristy Wallace, later his wife) — whom, as legend has it, he picked up as a hitchhiker in California. By 1975, they had moved to New York, where they became an integral part of the burgeoning punk scene surrounding CBGBs.
Their music differed from most of the scene's other acts in that it was heavily steeped in camp, with Interior's lyrics frequently drawing from schlocky B-movies, sexual kink and deceptively clever puns. (J.H. Sasfy's liner notes to their debut EP memorably noted: "The Cramps don't pummel and you won't pogo. They ooze; you'll throb.") Sonically, the band drew from blues and rockabilly, and a key element of their sound was the trashy, dueling guitars of Poison Ivy and Bryan Gregory (and later Kid Congo Powers), played with maximal scuzz and minimal drumming.
Because of that — not to mention Interior's deranged, Iggy Pop-inspired onstage antics and deep, sexualized singing voice (which one reviewer described as "the psychosexual werewolf/ Elvis hybrid from hell") — the Cramps are often cited as pioneers of "psychobilly" and "horror rock," and can count bands like the Black Lips, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, the Reverend Horton Heat, the Horrors and even the White Stripes as their musical progeny.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 5 February 2009 04:46 (4 years ago) Permalink
Everyone's already said it on this thread, but the Cramps were a band who transcended genre simply by opening so many doors. They were my first introduction to a lot of rockabilly, rare r&b etc. And they made everything their own, and in doing so let you know that if you wanted to check out the original, it would probably blow your little teenage mind.
The real fucking shit, the Cramps. Their original drummer, M1r1am, lives in my neighborhood, and I see her walking the dog sometimes. I know she left the band early on, but I can imagine how devasted someone who knew the man closely must be. If we casual fans can be so touched and upset, god only knows what magic the man wrought on his close friends. Not to over-romanticize what was undoubtedly a complicated and often painful life, but you know...
― ian, Thursday, 5 February 2009 04:51 (4 years ago) Permalink
They did a lot of great covers -- great songs, great versions -- but originals like "What's Behind the Mask" and "Mystery Plane" deserve a lot of praise, too.
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 5 February 2009 07:28 (4 years ago) Permalink
― blunt, Thursday, 5 February 2009 07:33 (4 years ago) Permalink
Oh man. Another hero gone :-(
― StanM, Thursday, 5 February 2009 07:43 (4 years ago) Permalink
Ah, jeez fuck shit.
What a fun sweetheart. What a great.
RIP.
― i, grey, Thursday, 5 February 2009 07:47 (4 years ago) Permalink
Maybe the best frontman I ever saw. RIP Lux.
― Inky pinky ponky, father had a donkey (aldo), Thursday, 5 February 2009 09:01 (4 years ago) Permalink
RIP, Elvis Fuckin' Christ. "You gotta live it 'til you're dead . ." and Lux damn well did.
― Soukesian, Thursday, 5 February 2009 09:05 (4 years ago) Permalink
nooooooo
― post-bloghouse, or maybe post-Merriweather-post-core (latebloomer), Thursday, 5 February 2009 09:07 (4 years ago) Permalink
Really bummed at never having gotten to see 'em. RIP Garbageman.
― bear, bear, bear, Thursday, 5 February 2009 09:09 (4 years ago) Permalink
Oh damn. Only ever saw them once when they played the Reading Festival (1990?). Didn't really quite work in the open air, but I do remember some sort of on-stage hijinks going on - didn't Lux eat his own vomit or something? Anyhow, the records really kick arse and I would gladly give my right nipple to have seen them play in some dank subterranean dungeon somewhere. RIP Lux.
― Frank Sumatra (NickB), Thursday, 5 February 2009 09:16 (4 years ago) Permalink
the cramps changed my fucking life. so long lux. my thoughts are with ivy.
― stirmonster, Thursday, 5 February 2009 09:55 (4 years ago) Permalink
Jesus, not another one! RIP Lux, what a man, love to Ivy.
― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Tom D.), Thursday, 5 February 2009 09:57 (4 years ago) Permalink
I don't think another band ever turned me on to so much other great stuff. The first time I saw them is still one of the 5 best live shows I ever saw... and it was at a House of Blues! R.I.P./Stay Sick!
― Shannon Whirry & the Bad Brains, Thursday, 5 February 2009 10:56 (4 years ago) Permalink
I'll never forget the image of Lux scaling a wall of speakers while wearing bikini briefs and fishnet stockings. Even their roadie shook his head at the sight. Last time I saw them was in October 2004 at the Avalon in Boston. Across the street, the Yankees were killing my Red Sox in Game 3 of the ALCS (but we know how that turned out - heh heh). They kicked off with "Mad Daddy," I believe. Incredible shows, all. RIP.
― Jazzbo, Thursday, 5 February 2009 12:26 (4 years ago) Permalink
I've been listening to them loads over the last week or so and was pleased they were nearing the shortlist of invitees to May's UK ATP. Sad news. RIP Lux.
I remember first hearing Off The Bone when I was ~14. I confess my first reaction was "what in the fuck is this shit?" but it wasn't long before it was a mainstay on my turntable. I'll give it a wee play on the way home tonight.
― super shareaholic firefox add (onimo), Thursday, 5 February 2009 13:06 (4 years ago) Permalink
Yes, I've still got the 3d specs!
― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Tom D.), Thursday, 5 February 2009 13:07 (4 years ago) Permalink
kid congo powers is often working at the record store i frequent. he's really nice!
― Mad God 40/40 (Z S), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:35 (1 year ago) Permalink
― frogsclovetofu (beachville), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:36 (1 year ago) Permalink
In 1979, at Toronto's Edge club, Lux drank water from my shoe. It's true--took a while, but I think that's what eventually killed him.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:37 (1 year ago) Permalink
that lux/ivy pic is very royal trux.
― tits or kitfo (get bent), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:44 (1 year ago) Permalink
circle of life
― THE KITTEN TYPE (contenderizer), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:55 (1 year ago) Permalink
The WFMU "Lux & Ivy's Favorites" comps that Kevin John Bozelka linked to upthread have provided a huge chunk of my listening over the past two years. I seriously cannot recommend them highly enough. L&I were always supremely knowledgeable about the obscurities they covered and the riffs they borrowed to create their own songs. This one was a revelation:
― Advanced Uncle Meat recovery system (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 20:21 (1 year ago) Permalink
Never watched this show, but I know kids love it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvI64lIaQDc
― clemenza, Tuesday, 21 August 2012 01:09 (8 months ago) Permalink