The Cramps
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | 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 [[B-movie]] clichés. | + | 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 [[B-movie]] clichés. |
| 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]] 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. They also were influenced to a degree by [[The Ramones]] and [[Screamin' Jay Hawkins]], who is often credited for having pioneered their style of theatrical horror-blues. | 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]] 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. They also were influenced to a degree by [[The Ramones]] and [[Screamin' Jay Hawkins]], who is often credited for having pioneered their style of theatrical horror-blues. | ||
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The Cramps are a punk rock band originally formed in 1972. Their line-up has rotated much over the years, with Lux Interior and Poison Ivy, the lead singer and lead guitarist respectively as the only permanent members.
They were part of the early CBGBs punk rock movement that had emerged in New York.
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 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 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 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 and Screamin' Jay Hawkins, who is often credited for having pioneered their style of theatrical horror-blues.
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, The Birthday Party, Flat Duo Jets, and Queen Adreena. It is also widely acknowledged that The Cramps inspired the more recent Psychobilly subgenre, Gothabilly — which focuses even more so on the monster/horror themes.
† 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.
