Cramps frontman Lux Interior dies

[tuvor]

Source: Reuters

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Cramps frontman Lux Interior died Wednesday at a Glendale, Calif., hospital as the result of a pre-existing heart condition, the band's publicist confirmed to Billboard. He was 52.

The Cramps formed in 1976 and were part of the now legendary downtown New York punk scene. Their lineup shifted over the years but always included Lux and his wife, Poison Ivy. The band's rockabilly-infused punk has been credited as an influence by bands including the White Stripes and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

Interior, whose real name was Erick Lee Purkhiser, was born October 21, 1946, in Ohio. He met Ivy in 1972 and started the band shortly thereafter.

The Cramps released 14 albums over the course of their career, their latest being 2004's "How To Make a Monster." Their best-selling album, 1984's "Bad Music for Bad People" has sold 95,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE5140P920090205

[devilgrrl]

1. He was 62

RIP Lux

[JCMach1]

2. RIP Lux: Here's one of my favorite Cramps songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQew7N3urOY

To remember the good times...

[Tikki]

22. One of my favorites...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imNtdT6-Z5Q

The Cramps were the standard for young Psychobilly bands to get started
in the late 70's and into the 80's on....
We saw them live a half dozen times....and it was good times.

The Tikkis RIP LUX

[JCMach1]

23. Essential soundtrack for underground kids of the 1980's

Dang, I'm getting old :(

[HughBeaumont]

3. I used to work with Nick Knox . . .

He looks back on the Cramps experience with fondness overall, but felt slighted since he had to watch all of these bands that opened for them (thanks to over-cautious management). . . such as the B-52s, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Go-Gos, etc, all rocket to stardom while they still remained mostly on the brink of breaking out of the underground but never did.

The Cramps taught us you can make a statement with simplicity and a bit of yourself rather than complexity and rigidity.

R.I.P.

[jpak]

15. I *almost* saw them in Athens GA in 1979

The were supposed to play at the Georgia Theater with Pylon opening.

The theater went broke that afternoon and the management would not let them go on - even though they said they would play for free.

I left righteously pissed - and was even more pissed when I learned that a local record store (Chapter 3) let them play in their downtown loft that night.

Still kicking myself to this day...

[corkhead]

4. I'm one of the 95,000. I love that album.

it was some new kind of thrill.

[KittyWampus]

19. I did a video of the town dump many moons ago to "Garbageman".

[corkhead]

32. cool, let me know if you youtube it...

:toast:

[C_U_L8R]

5. Lux will be gravely missed

I was very fortunate to have met him and have fond memories
spending an evening with Lux and Ivy chatting about b-movies
and obscure films. He was brilliant and a very sweet guy.
We're gonna miss ypu Lux... hope you're raising hell in heaven :-))

[brentspeak]

31. I just watched the video of their performance at the Cal State Napa psychiatric hospital

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5OMuj4FpII

He comes across as a decent guy who didn't look down on the troubled people he was performing to.

[byeya]

6. I hate this news. I have all The Cramps albums and singles

and am a big fan. Lux and Ivy were avid collectors and researchers into obscure rockabilly and neglected music too. Hasil Adkins and others gained prominence due to Lux & Ivy.
I am really sorry. Best wishes to you Ivy, and Lux: R.I.P. You did good, buddy.

[bos1]

7. Like no other band in the universe. LUX RIP

LUX RIP

[Wink]

8. Just started getting into them a few years ago

I love "The Way I Walk", "Garbage Man", "New Kind Of Kick", and "Let's Get Fucked Up". Never saw them live but was hoping they would hit Chicago soon.

[4dsc]

9. Never heard of them..

[Javaman]

12. Check them out sometime, you don't know what you are missing. nt

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

10. He tried to pick a fight with me once...

In the Grammercy Park Hotel bar. I was sitting there quietly, with my long hair, takling to a friend. He came up and started with the "fuck you hippie" and "I'm gonna kick your ass".

I kept drinking, but I was impressed with what a great guy he was. I am truly sorry to hear of his passing.

[southpaw]

21. Seriously?

If so, he sounds like a stereotypical punker asshole.

But I guess that's a Punk Rock(tm) thing.

I met many a punker back in the day (mostly the early 80's) who were violently intolerant of those of us who weren't just like them.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

24. Yes, quite seriously.

I had no idea of who the guy was. I was like "Who? What? Why? Huh?". Then someone told me it was Lux, leader of The Cramps.

But hey, at the end of the day, he was tall, but about 2 inches around. I was not in mortal fear. ;-)

[Coventina]

11. NOOOOO!!! I can't believe it!

:cry:

*sob*

crap!!!

Saw them live twice. Once on the "Stay Sick" tour and then once after that ("Flame Job" maybe?)

Great show. Lots of fun.

This totally ruins my day.

Condolences to Ivy & the rest of his family.

:cry:

[Javaman]

13. The three biggest musical influences on my life are now gone.

Joey, Joe and now Lux.

I have had the pleasure of seeing The Cramps many times. They always put on an amazing show.

You will be greatly missed Lux.

Callin all you corn fed dames!!!

Still love their version of Fever. Check out the movie "Near Dark", the bar scene with the cramps version of fever playing in the background. Brilliant.

so much to say, but it's all been said. how ever I will say this, "what color are the panties that you're wearing...and how long have you been wearing them?"

Cheers, Lux, cheers.

[Theres-a]

18. Right on

Only saw them live once,but I played the music to death.Damn.

[bos1]

26. Lux, Bo and Kurt

My 3 gone too

[specimenfred1984]

14. "I'm the human fly and I don't know why, I say buzz buzz buzz and it's just because"

The Cramps were great, he'll be missed. I met The Cramps and they are/were very friendly people.

[slackmaster]

16. Crap

My Date With Elvis is one of my favorite CDs.

[Taverner]

17. Fuck

I liked the Cramps - mix of burlesque, horrorshow and do wop (well, and punk)

RIP Lux

[Resuscitated Ethics]

20. Peerless - way more than the sum of the parts

Nice one from France

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cukdOaBZgAw

Saw them in late '90-- Stay Sick? A national treasure. Retro and futuristic yet right now.

Sympathy and silent support for Ivy and the rest.

[quispquake]

25. That totally sucks...

I've been a major fan since seeing them in the mid-80's up in Montreal...one of my favorite bands ever...man, first Ron Asheton, now Lux...2009 looks to be a very sucky year for Rock & Roll...

[maxsolomon]

27. the candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long

i'll spin his vinyl tonight.

Roll on
Rock on
Raw Bones
Well I still got all the rythem in these
Rockin' Bones

I wanna leave a happy memory
when I go, I wanna leave something
to let the whole world know,
that the rock in roll daddy has
a done passed on, but my bones
will keep a rockin' long after I've gone


Roll on
Rock on
Raw Bones
Well I still got all the rythem in these
Rockin' Bones

Well when I die don't you burry
me at all, Just nail my bonesup on
the wall, Beneath these bones let
these words be seen, "This is the
bloody gears of a
boppin' machine"

Roll on
Rock on
Raw Bones
Well I still got all the rythem in these
Rockin' Bones

And I worry about tomorrow just
thinkin' about tonight, My bones are
getting restless and I do it up right,
A few more times around a hardwood
floor, Before we turn off the lights and
close the door

Roll on
Rock on
Raw Bones
Well I still got all the rythem in these
Rockin' Bones

[gauguin57]

28. I-I'm a human fly ... and I just don't know why ...

RIP, Lux. Condolences to Poison Ivy.

[abq e streeter]

29. Saddened to hear this---lucky enough to have seen the Cramps twice

what an incredibly fun show...

[REP]

30. How sad!!

What sad news.

Nice to know he spent at least half his life doing what he loved - hearing and watching them play, it's pretty obvious that he and Ivy loved performing.

[Starry Messenger]

33. This totally makes me sad.

My first real date with my fiance was at a Cramps Halloween show at the Warfield. :( RIP Lux.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQQjfmKjXNU&feature=PlayList&p=E826626714476F5C&playnext=1&index=3

[Barrett808]

34. Just hang my bones up on the wall

:cry: