The Cramps
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | "Their sound was heavily influenced by [[Sun Records]] [[rockabilly]] and proto-rock'n'roll like [[Link Wray]] and [[Hasil Adkins]], 1960s [[surf music]] acts such as [[The Ventures]] and [[Dick Dale]], 1960s [[garage rock]] artists like [[The Standells]], [[The Gants]], [[The Trashmen]], [[The Green Fuz]] and [[The Sonics]], as well as the post-[[glam]]/early [[punk music|punk]] scene from which they emerged. Production-wise they were influenced by [[Alex Chilton]]. Their influences and/or the songs they covered were compiled in the ''[[Born Bad series]]''."--Sholem Stein | + | If I could only find<br> |
| + | Some new kind of [[kick]]<br> | ||
| + | Something I ain't had<br> | ||
| + | Some new kind of [[buzz]]<br> | ||
| + | |||
| + | --"[[New Kind of Kick]]" (1981) by The Cramps | ||
| + | <hr> | ||
| + | This one's dedicated to all you [[Gucci]] bag carriers out there. | ||
| + | |||
| + | --"[[You Got Good Taste]]" (1983) by The Cramps | ||
| + | |||
| |} | |} | ||
| {{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
| - | '''The Cramps''' were an [[American punk rock]] band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer [[Lux Interior]]. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist [[Poison Ivy (musician)|Poison Ivy]] the only permanent members. The addition of band members guitarist [[Bryan Gregory]] and drummer Pam Ballam comprised the first complete lineup in April 1976. | + | '''The Cramps''' were an [[American band]], formed in 1976 and active until 2009, best-known for their song "[[Human Fly (song)|Human Fly]]" (1978). |
| - | They were part of the early [[CBGB#1970s|CBGB]] [[punk rock]] [[punk movement|movement]] that had emerged in New York. The Cramps are noted as influencing a number of musical styles: not only were they one of the first [[garage punk]] bands, they are also widely recognized as one of the prime innovators of [[psychobilly]], and they inspired many of the early [[goth rock]] bands. | + | They were part of the early [[CBGB#1970s|CBGB]] [[punk movement|punk rock movement]] that had emerged in New York. The Cramps were one of the first punk bands, and also widely recognized as one of the prime innovators of [[psychobilly]]. |
| + | ==Characteristics== | ||
| + | Their music is mostly in [[rockabilly]] form, played at varying tempos, with a minimal drumkit. An integral part of the early Cramps sound was dual guitars, without a [[bass guitar|bassist]]. The focus of their songs' lyrical content and their image was camp humor, sexual double-entendre, and [[retro]] horror/sci-fi [[b-movie]] iconography. | ||
| - | They are best-known for their song "[[Human Fly]]". | + | Their sound was heavily influenced by early rockabilly, [[rhythm and blues]], and [[rock and roll]] like [[Link Wray]] and [[Hasil Adkins]], 1960s [[surf music]] acts such as [[the Ventures]] and [[Dick Dale]], 1960s [[garage rock]] artists like [[the Standells]], [[the Trashmen]], [[the Green Fuz]] and [[the Sonics]], as well as the post-[[glam rock|glam]]/early [[punk music|punk]] scene from which they emerged, as well as citing [[Ricky Nelson]] as being an influence during numerous interviews. They also were influenced to a degree by the [[Ramones]] and [[Screamin' Jay Hawkins]], who were an influence for their style of theatrical horror-blues. |
| + | |||
| + | Despite being a Blues band by concept according to Ivy, the Cramps have influenced countless subsequent bands in the garage, punk and revival rockabilly styles, and helped create the psychobilly genre. "Psychobilly" was a term coined by the Cramps, although Lux Interior maintained that the term did not describe their own style. | ||
| - | ==Characteristics== | ||
| - | Their music is mostly in [[blues]] form, played at varying, (though usually fast) tempos, with a very minimal drumkit. An integral part of the early Cramps sound is dual guitars, without a [[bass guitar|bassist]]. The content of their songs and image is [[sleaze]], [[trashy]] [[Americana]] (much in the style of filmmaker [[John Waters (filmmaker)|John Waters]]), [[sexual fetishism]], clever bad jokes, and [[cheap]], [[horror film|horror]] [[B-movie]] [[cliché]]s. | ||
| - | ==Influenced by== | ||
| - | Their sound was heavily influenced by [[Sun Records]] [[rockabilly]] and proto-rock'n'roll like [[Link Wray]] and [[Hasil Adkins]], 1960s [[surf music]] acts such as [[The Ventures]] and [[Dick Dale]], 1960s [[garage rock]] artists like [[The Standells]], [[The Gants]], [[The Trashmen]], [[The Green Fuz]] and [[The Sonics]], as well as the post-[[glam]]/early [[punk music|punk]] scene from which they emerged. Production-wise they were influenced by [[Alex Chilton]]. Their influences and/or the songs they covered were compiled in the ''[[Born Bad series]]''. | ||
| ==Influential to== | ==Influential to== | ||
| In turn, they have strongly influenced subsequent punk and rockabilly revival bands, even creating a genre in their wake. "[[Psychobilly]]," a style played by bands like [[The Meteors]] and the Sharks, is a term<sup>†</sup> coined by the Cramps, although Lux Interior maintains that the term does not describe their own style. The Cramps also influenced or anticipated acts like [[The White Stripes]], [[The Gun Club]], [[The Fuzztones]], [[James Chance|James Chance and the Contortions]] and [[The Birthday Party (band)|The Birthday Party]]. | In turn, they have strongly influenced subsequent punk and rockabilly revival bands, even creating a genre in their wake. "[[Psychobilly]]," a style played by bands like [[The Meteors]] and the Sharks, is a term<sup>†</sup> coined by the Cramps, although Lux Interior maintains that the term does not describe their own style. The Cramps also influenced or anticipated acts like [[The White Stripes]], [[The Gun Club]], [[The Fuzztones]], [[James Chance|James Chance and the Contortions]] and [[The Birthday Party (band)|The Birthday Party]]. | ||
Current revision
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If I could only find --"New Kind of Kick" (1981) by The Cramps This one's dedicated to all you Gucci bag carriers out there. --"You Got Good Taste" (1983) by The Cramps |
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Featured: |
The Cramps were an American band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009, best-known for their song "Human Fly" (1978).
They were part of the early CBGB punk rock movement that had emerged in New York. The Cramps were one of the first punk bands, and also widely recognized as one of the prime innovators of psychobilly.
Contents |
[edit]
Characteristics
Their music is mostly in rockabilly form, played at varying tempos, with a minimal drumkit. An integral part of the early Cramps sound was dual guitars, without a bassist. The focus of their songs' lyrical content and their image was camp humor, sexual double-entendre, and retro horror/sci-fi b-movie iconography.
Their sound was heavily influenced by early rockabilly, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll like Link Wray and Hasil Adkins, 1960s surf music acts such as the Ventures and Dick Dale, 1960s garage rock artists like the Standells, the Trashmen, the Green Fuz and the Sonics, as well as the post-glam/early punk scene from which they emerged, as well as citing Ricky Nelson as being an influence during numerous interviews. They also were influenced to a degree by the Ramones and Screamin' Jay Hawkins, who were an influence for their style of theatrical horror-blues.
Despite being a Blues band by concept according to Ivy, the Cramps have influenced countless subsequent bands in the garage, punk and revival rockabilly styles, and helped create the psychobilly genre. "Psychobilly" was a term coined by the Cramps, although Lux Interior maintained that the term did not describe their own style.
[edit]
Influential to
In turn, they have strongly influenced subsequent punk and rockabilly revival bands, even creating a genre in their wake. "Psychobilly," a style played by bands like The Meteors and the Sharks, is a term† coined by the Cramps, although Lux Interior maintains that the term does not describe their own style. The Cramps also influenced or anticipated acts like The White Stripes, The Gun Club, The Fuzztones, James Chance and the Contortions and The Birthday Party.
† It is debatable that the Cramps coined the phrase psychobilly. It is perhaps mentioned for the first time in Johnny Cash's song "One Piece at a Time," released in 1976.
[edit]
Discography
[edit]
Albums and EPs
| Album Title | Year | Record Label | UK Chart | UK Indie | US Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravest Hits EP | 1979 | Illegal Records/I.R.S. Records
| | <center>- | <center>- |
| Songs The Lord Taught Us | 1980 | Illegal Records
| <center>- | <center>1 | <center>- |
| Psychedelic Jungle | 1981 | I.R.S. Records
| <center>- | <center>- | <center>- |
| Smell of Female | 1983 | Big Beat Records
| <center>74 | <center>4 | <center>- |
| ...Off The Bone | 1983 | Illegal Records
| <center>44 | <center>- | <center>- |
| Bad Music for Bad People | 1984 | I.R.S. Records
| <center>- | <center>- | <center>- |
| A Date With Elvis | 1986 | Big Beat Records
| <center>34 | <center>1 | <center>- |
| Rockin n Reelin in Auckland New Zealand | 1987 | Vengeance Records
| <center>- | <center>4 | <center>- |
| Stay Sick | 1990 | Enigma Records
| <center>62 | <center>- | <center>- |
| Look Mom, No Head! | 1991 | Big Beat Records
| <center>- | <center>- | <center>- |
| Flame Job | 1994 | Creation Records
| <center>- | <center>- | <center>- |
| Big Beat From Badsville | 1997 | Epitaph
| <center>- | <center>- | <center>- |
| Fiends of Dope Island | 2003 | Vengeance Records
| <center>- | <center>- | <center>- |
| How to Make a Monster | 2004 | Vengeance Records | <center>- | <center>- | <center>- |
[edit]
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | UK Singles Chart | |||
| 1978 | "Surfin Bird" / "The Way I Walk" (US)
| Gravest Hits | ||||
"Human Fly" / "Domino" (US)
| ||||||
| 1980 | "Fever" / "Garbageman" (UK)
| Songs The Lord Taught Us | ||||
"Garbageman" / "TV Set" (Fr)
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"Garbageman" / "Drug Train" (US)
| ||||||
"Drug Train" / "love Me" "I Can't Hardly Stand It"
| …Off The Bone | |||||
| 1981 | "Goo Goo Muck" / "She Said"
| Psychedelic Jungle | ||||
"The Crusher" / "Save it" "New Kind of Kick"
| ||||||
| 1984 | "Faster Pussycat" / "You Got Good Taste"
| Smell of Female | ||||
"I Ain't Nuthin' But a Gorehound" / "Weekend on Mars"
| ||||||
| 1985 | "Can Your Pussy Do the Dog?" / "Blue Moon Baby"
| #68 | A Date With Elvis | |||
| 1986 | "What's Inside a Girl?" / "Give Me A Woman"
| |||||
"Kizmiaz" / "Give Me A Woman"
| ||||||
| "Get Off The Road" (Sweden) | ||||||
| 1989 | "Bikini Girls With Machine Guns" / "Jackyard Backoff"
| #10 | #35 | Stay Sick! | ||
"All Women Are Bad" /"Teenage Rage"
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"The Creature From the Black Leather Lagoon" / "jailhouse Rock"
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| 1991 | "Eyeball In My Martini" / "Wilder Wilder Faster Faster"
| Look Mom, No Head! | ||||
| 1994 | "Lets Get Fucked Up" / "How Come You Do Me"
| Flame Job | ||||
"Ultra Twist" "Confessions of a Psycho Cat"
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| 1995 | "Naked Girll Falling Down the Stairs" "Lets Get Fucked Up"
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| 2003 | "Like A Bad Girl Should" / "I Walked All Night"
| Big Beat From Badsville | ||||
"Big Black Witchcraft Rock" / "Butcher Pete"
| Fiends of Dope Island | |||||
[edit]
Videos
- Human Fly (1978)
- Garbageman (1979)
- Urgh! A Music War (1982)
- Bikini Girls With Machine Guns (1990)
- Creature From the Black Leather Lagoon (1990)
- Ultra Twist (1994)
- Naked Girl Falling Down the Stairs (1994)
- Like a Bad Girl Should (1997)
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "The Cramps" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
