The Cramps

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Sacramento, United States (1976 – 2009)

The Cramps were an American band formed in Sacramento, California in 1976. The band was influential in founding of a hybrid subgenre later known as “,” which is a fusion of and . Their music is mostly in 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 bassist. The content of their songs and image is sleaze, trashy Americana (much in the style of filmmaker John Waters), sexual fetishism, clever bad jokes, and cheap, horror B-movie clichés.

Their line-up has rotated much over the past couple of decades, with Lux Interior and Poison Ivy—the lead singer and lead guitarist, respectively—as the only permanent members.
Lux picked up Ivy when he was driving on the highway. Ivy had raised her hand for an auto stop, Lux stopped his car and …fate brought them together.

They were part of the early CBGB’s punk rock movement that had emerged in New York, although they had formed several years earlier in California. The band is credited as a prominent factor in terms of influence on the genre.

Their sound was heavily influenced by early rockabilly and proto-rock’n’roll like Link Wray and Hasil Adkins, 1960s surf music acts such as The Ventures, The Surfaris 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 scene from which they emerged. They also were influenced to a degree by The Ramones as well as Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, who is often credited for having pioneered their style of theatrical horror-blues.
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  • Bad Music for Bad People
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  • Off The Bone
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  • Songs The Lord Taught Us
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  • Psychedelic Jungle
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  • rosanak

    I LOVE them

    15 days ago

  • JarethD

    'They werent from Sacramento...' Actually Lux and Poison originally formed the project there in 1972 then they moved to Ohio then New York where the project became more serious.

    15 days ago

  • MarcyStooge

    This one goes out to all you gucci bag carriers: YOU GOT GOOD TASTE!

    25 days ago

  • hippiesrsucky

    They werent from Sacramento..

    last month

  • corcinodiego

    foda demais

    last month

  • beforethepoison

    Poor ivy, how is she without lux? :T

    last month

  • Rubeno513

    Miss you Lux, R.I.P.

    last month

  • adrynalyna

    such a great piece of music ♥

    last month
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