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Band Timeline
Formation of The Cramps
Early Lineup Changes and Singles
Landmark Napa State Mental Hospital Concert and UK Tour
Debut Album Release and Relocation to Los Angeles
Release of 'Smell of Female' Live Album
European Tour and Media Appearances
Death of Lux Interior and Band Dissolution
Albums
Members
Current
Nickey “Beat” Alexander
Bill Bateman
Drums (drum set)
Lux Interior
Jim Sclavunos
Poison Ivy
History
Kid Congo Powers
Bryan Gregory
Harry Drumdini
Harry Drumdini
Miriam Linna
Slim Chance
Bass guitar
Julien Hechtlinger
Electric guitar
Mike Metoff
Nick Knox
Membranophone
Candy Del Mar
Story of The Cramps
The Cramps, progenitors of psychobilly and purveyors of sleazy, high-octane rockabilly-punk, stormed onto the scene in 1976 and remained a potent force until 2009. The bands core—and only constant members—were the iconic husband-and-wife team of Lux Interior (Erick Lee Purkhiser) and Poison Ivy (Kristy Marlana Wallace). Their initial lineup solidified in April 1976 with the additions of guitarist Bryan Gregory and drummer Pam Balam. While their membership fluctuated wildly over the years, the duos singular vision remained consistent.
Their debut album, Songs the Lord Taught Us, dropped in 1980, marking the beginning of a prolific career. Interior and Wallace, who met in Sacramento in 1972, bonded over a shared passion for record collecting and a darkly comedic aesthetic. Interiors stage name came from a car ad, while Ivys (initially Poison Ivy Rorschach, a nod to the famous test) arrived in a dream. After relocating from Akron, Ohio, to New York City in 1975, they quickly immersed themselves in the burgeoning CBGBs scene, sharing bills with punk luminaries like the Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie, Patti Smith, Television, Suicide, Mink DeVille, and fellow Ohio transplants, the Dead Boys. The bands legendary run ultimately ended with Lux Interior`s passing in 2009.
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