ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 20, 1990
By Steve Newton
What do squeaky-clean teen idols Loverboy and the crude ‘n’ demented Cramps have in common?
Sweet-bugger-all, you say?
Pretty close, but the Cramps did borrow Loverboy’s barricade to use in front of the Commodore stage last Thursday (April 12). With a house full of pogoing misfits–the type that think stage-diving should be an Olympic event–nobody wanted to gamble on a reenactment of the violent Ramones show at 86 Street last year.
As it turned out, the barricade did do the trick, and the rowdy gang of Cramps lovers were left to vent their energy on the trusty springs of the Commodore’s dance floor. “There’s only one rule tonight,” bellowed singer Lux Interior, telling a fib. “Everything goes!” But he must have been referring to the rules on-stage, ’cause that’s where most of the craziness happened, courtesy of Lux himself.
Wearing a wet-look black jacket and slacks–the latter opened up to just above flashing level–Interior was a gyrating Elvis-from-Hell, yowling the band’s trashy lyrics on rude tunes like “Can Your Pussy do the Dog?” and “Journey to the Center of a Girl”.
Interior must have been using one of those new-fangled, indestructible microphones, because–when he wasn’t stuffing the thing down his trousers–he was using it as a percussion instrument on the stage floor.
While Lux kept the entertainment end of things up, guitarist Poison Ivy concentrated on the trebly, feedback-laden surf and rockabilly licks that drive the tunes, looking rather sharp herself in a sequined gold bikini-style outfit. With bassist Candy Del Marr and drummer Nick Knox in tow, the Cramps proved once again that they’re masters of dynamics–the intensity of the show seemed to grow as each song went flashing by.
By the time Lux hit the stage for the second encore, clad in nothing but a scarlet G-string, the group’s unique brand of mutated rockabilly has dug its rusty hooks into most everyone.
To hear the full audio of the 1990 interview I did with Poison Ivy two weeks before the show subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can also eavesdrop on over 300 my uncut, one-on-one conversations with:
Dave Martone, 2020
Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, 2006
Joss Stone, 2012
Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, 2005
Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Tom Cochrane of Red Rider, 1983
Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
Taj Mahal, 2001
Tom Wilson of Junkhouse, 1995
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
John Hiatt, 2010
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Moe Berg of the Pursuit of Happiness, 1990
Todd Rundgren, 2006
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, 2001
Steve Earle, 1987
Gabby Gaborno of the Cadillac Tramps, 1991
Terry Bozzio, 2003
Roger Glover, 1985
Matthew Sweet, 1995
Jim McCarty of the Yardbirds, 2003
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, 1995
Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Grace Potter, 2008
Buddy Guy, 1993
Steve Lynch of Autograph, 1985
Don Wilson of the Ventures, 1997
Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar, 1998
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
David Gilmour from Pink Floyd, 1984
Jeff Healey, 1988
Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip, 1996
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Edgar Winter, 2005
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Randy Hansen, 2001
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joey Belladonna of Anthrax, 1991
Joe Satriani, 1990
Vernon Reid of Living Colour, 1988
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
Zakk Wylde of Pride & Glory, 1994
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
John Doe, 1990
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Doyle Bramhall II, 2001
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Randy Bachman, 2001
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
…with hundreds more to come