Formed in ’76, and fueled by late night horror flicks, the Cramps dug deep into the facets of rock’n'roll, incorprating elements of sixties punk, surf, psychedelia, rockabilly and instrumental rock into their music to create something truly unique, ‘psychobilly’ as they coined it. It is not pretty, but it is good and when played automatically makes us bust out in a spontaneous living room dance party. ‘Songs the Lord Taught Us’ is the first full length LP to come from them in 1980, but prior to that they released a just as amazing EP entitled Gravest Hits as well as being the first band to play a live show at the Napa State Mental Hospital which was fortunately filmed and an all too perfect setting for the band. Lead vocalist Lux Interior (yes, that is his amazing name) has been described as sounding like a mix between Elvis Presley and Frankenstein’s monster. They emerged at the beginning of the underground punk scene in NY and have subsequently been a huge influence on not only that genre but loads of others as well. And let’s face it, with names like Lux Interior and Poison Ivy (guitarist and also his wife) this band is oozing ‘cool.’

And here are my 5 LP Lovelies: (channeling some of Poison Ivy’s eclectic 80′s style)

1. Shiny leggings from American Apparel 2. Handmade Cropped Top from Cruise Designs 3. Live DVD from the Napa State Mental Hospital 4.Alexander Wang by Linda Farrow Pointed Cat Glasses 5. Christian Louboutin Black Pumps