The Cramps – The Pioneers of Psychobilly

The Cramps is an iconic American band, formed in 1976 in New York by Lux Interior (Erick Purkhiser) and Poison Ivy (Kristy Wallace). They are often considered the pioneers of psychobilly, a hybrid genre mixing rockabilly, punk rock, and an aesthetic inspired by horror movies, 1950s kitsch, and underground culture.

The Cramps developed a unique sound by blending:

1950s rockabilly (Gene Vincent, Link Wray, Hasil Adkins)
1960s garage rock (The Sonics, The Trashmen)
The raw energy of punk rock (The Ramones, The Stooges)
A gothic and horror imagery, inspired by B-movies, horror comics, and fetish culture.

Their music is characterized by distorted guitar, hypnotic rhythms, and Lux Interior’s theatrical and often delirious voice. Poison Ivy, the band’s lead guitarist and central figure, left a mark with her sharp playing style and provocative look.

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