List of the Cramps members

The Cramps was an American punk rock band from New York City. Formed in April 1976, the group originally consisted of vocalist Lux Interior (Erick Purkhiser), guitarists Poison Ivy (Kristy Wallace) and Bryan Gregory (Gregory Beckerleg), and drummer Pam Balam (Pam Beckerleg). The band remained active until Purkhiser's death on February 4, 2009, when its lineup featured Wallace and drummer Harry Drumdini (Harry Meisenheimer).

The Cramps performing in 2006.

History

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Lux Interior (left) and Poison Ivy led the Cramps throughout its 33-year tenure.

1976–1986

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Lux Interior, Poison Ivy, Bryan Gregory and Pam Balam (Gregory's sister) formed the Cramps in April 1976.[1] After just a few months, Balam was replaced by Miriam Linna.[2] She remained in the group until shortly after its first headlining show in July 1977, when Nick Knox (Nick Stephanoff) took her place.[3] After releasing three singles and a debut album, Songs the Lord Taught Us, Gregory left the Cramps at the end of May 1980 following a show in Berkeley, California.[4] He was briefly replaced during the summer of 1980 by Julien Griensnatch (Julien Hechtlinger),[5] before Kid Congo Powers (Brian Tristan) took over before the end of the year.[6]

Powers contributed to 1981's Psychedelic Jungle and the 1983 live album Smell of Female, before rejoining the Gun Club that September.[7] He was replaced for shows over the next year by Ike Knox (Mike Metoff) and Click Mort (Christopher Doran).[8] Starting in 1985, the Cramps began adding bass to its recordings, starting with "Surfin' Dead" on the soundtrack for the film The Return of the Living Dead – initially, the role was performed by Poison Ivy, including on the band's 1986 return A Date with Elvis.[9] For the subsequent promotional tour, Jennifer "Fur" Dixon briefly joined the band,[10] followed by Candy del Mar starting in the summer.[11]

1986–2009

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With the lineup of Lux Interior, Poison Ivy, Candy del Mar and Nick Knox, the Cramps released RockinnReelininAucklandNewZealandXXX in 1987 and Stay Sick! in 1990, before both del Mar and Knox left in early 1991. In the summer, the group recorded Look Mom No Head! with new bassist Slim Chance and drummer Jim Sclavunos (formerly of Sonic Youth), although by the time the album was released, the latter had been replaced by former Weirdos and L.A. Guns drummer Nickey Alexander (Jeffrey Ivisovich).[12] By early 1993, Alexander had also left the band, replaced by False Confession's Harry Drumdini (Harry Meisenheimer).[13]

After two more albums – 1994's Flamejob and 1997's Big Beat from Badsville – and an extensive touring cycle, Slim Chance left the Cramps towards the end of 1998. For tour dates at the end of the year, and occasional performances during 1999 and 2000, bass was performed by Doran Shelley and later Sugarpie Jones (Tim Ferris).[14] The group remained inactive for much of 2001 and 2002, before announcing in August 2002 that it had started recording a new album with new permanent bassist Scott "Chopper" Franklin.[15] The album, Fiends of Dope Island, was released in April 2003.[16] Drumdini was fired in the summer due to problems with alcohol abuse, with "Jungle" Jim Chandler stepping in for dates later in the year.[17]

Following the release of How to Make a Monster, a compilation of old demo recordings, the Cramps toured with new drummer Bill "Buster" Bateman starting in the summer of 2004.[18] After another hiatus, the group toured in August 2006 with Harry Drumdini returning on drums, before Franklin was replaced in October and November by Sean Yseult (Shauna Reynolds).[19] During 2007 and 2008, the Cramps remained inactive again, before it was announced that frontman Lux Interior had died on February 4, 2009, of aortic dissection, thus signalling the end of the band.[20]

Members

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Image Stage name
(real name)
Years active Instruments Release contributions
Lux Interior
(Erick Purkhiser)
1976–2009 (until his death)
  • vocals
  • occasional harmonica/percussion
all Cramps releases
Poison Ivy
(Kristy Wallace)
1976–2009
  • lead and rhythm guitars
  • theremin
  • occasional bass
Bryan Gregory
(Gregory Beckerleg)
1976–1980 (died 2001) rhythm guitar
Pam Balam
(Pam Beckerleg)
1976 drums How to Make a Monster (2004)
Miriam Linna 1976–1977
Nick Knox
(Nick Stephanoff)
1977–1991 (died 2018)
  • drums
  • bongos
  • all Cramps releases from "Surfin' Bird" (1978) to Stay Sick! (1990)
  • How to Make a Monster (2004)
  • At the Haçienda (2015)
Julien Griensnatch
(Julien Hechtlinger)
1980 rhythm guitar Urgh! A Music War and its soundtrack
Kid Congo Powers
(Brian Tristan)
1980–1983
Ike Knox
(Mike Metoff)
  • 1983
  • 1984
At the Haçienda (2015)
Click Mort
(Christopher Doran)
1984 (died 2017) none
Touch Hazard
(Tim Maag)
1985–1986 bass
Jennifer "Fur" Dixon 1986 A Date with Elvis (1986) – guest backing vocals on one track
Candy Del Mar
(Connie Pedesko)
1986–1991
Slim Chance 1991–1998
Jim Sclavunos 1991 drums
  • Look Mom No Head! (1991)
  • Blues Fix (1992)
Nickey Alexander
(Jeffrey Ivisovich)
1991–1993 none
Harry Drumdini
(Harry Meisenheimer)
  • 1993–2003
  • 2006–2009
Doran Shelley 1998–1999 bass none
Sugarpie Jones
(Tim Ferris)
1999–2000
Jen Hanrahan 2000 percussion
Scott "Chopper" Franklin 2002–2006
  • bass
  • occasional rhythm guitar
  • Fiends of Dope Island (2003)
  • Live at the Lokerse Festival, Belgium (2010)
"Jungle" Jim Chandler 2003 drums none
Bill "Buster" Bateman 2004–2006 Live at the Lokerse Festival, Belgium (2010)
Sean Yseult
(Shauna Reynolds)
2006 bass none

Timeline

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Lineups

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Period Members Releases
March – September 1976
September 1976 – July 1977
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – lead guitar
  • Bryan Gregory – rhythm guitar
  • Miriam Linna – drums
  • How to Make a Monster (2004) – 3 tracks
July 1977 – May 1980
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – lead guitar
  • Bryan Gregory – rhythm guitar
  • Nick Knox – drums
Summer – late 1980
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – lead guitar
  • Julien Griensnatch – rhythm guitar
  • Nick Knox – drums
none
November 1980 – September 1983
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – lead guitar
  • Kid Congo Powers – rhythm guitar
  • Nick Knox – drums
October – November 1983
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – lead guitar
  • Ike Knox – rhythm guitar
  • Nick Knox – drums
none
January - April 1984
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – lead guitar
  • Click Mort – rhythm guitar
  • Nick Knox – drums
May – July 1984
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – lead guitar
  • Ike Knox – rhythm guitar
  • Nick Knox – drums
  • At the Haçienda (2015)
July 1984 – March 1986
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – guitar, bass
  • Nick Knox – drums
March – May 1986
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – guitar
  • Fur Dixon – bass
  • Nick Knox – drums
none
June 1986 – early 1991
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – guitar
  • Candy del Mar – bass
  • Nick Knox – drums
Early – summer 1991
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – guitar
  • Slim Chance – bass
  • Jim Sclavunos – drums
Summer 1991 – early 1993
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – guitar
  • Slim Chance – bass
  • Nickey Alexander – drums
none
Early 1993 – late 1998
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – guitar
  • Slim Chance – bass
  • Harry Drumdini – drums
1998–1999
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – guitar
  • Doran Shelley – bass
  • Harry Drumdini – drums
none
1999–2000
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – guitar
  • Sugarpie Jones – bass
  • Harry Drumdini – drums
August 2002 – July 2003
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – guitar
  • Chopper Franklin – bass
  • Harry Drumdini – drums
August – November 2003
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – guitar
  • Chopper Franklin – bass
  • Jim Chandler – drums
none
June 2004 – July 2006
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – guitar
  • Chopper Franklin – bass
  • Buster Bateman – drums
  • Live at the Lokerse Festival, Belgium (2010)
July – October 2006
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – guitar
  • Chopper Franklin – bass
  • Harry Drumdini – drums
none
October – November 2006
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – guitar
  • Sean Yseult – bass
  • Harry Drumdini – drums
November 2006 – February 2009
(band remained inactive)
  • Lux Interior – vocals
  • Poison Ivy – guitar
  • Harry Drumdini – drums

References

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  • Porter, Dick (January 12, 2015), Journey to the Centre of The Cramps, New York City, New York: Omnibus Press, ISBN 978-1783233885

Footnotes

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  1. ^ McStarkey, Mick (May 13, 2021). "The undeniable influence of The Cramps founder Lux Interior". Far Out. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  2. ^ Myers, Ella (August 19, 2017). "Miriam Linna: From Gatchell to The Cramps". Sudbury.com. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  3. ^ "What's Inside a Band?". OC Weekly. November 4, 2004. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  4. ^ Cooper, Mike (May 27, 1988). "Rock Almanac" (PDF). The Hard Report. No. 80. Medford Lakes, New Jersey: The Hard Report. p. 41. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  5. ^ Marlowe, Chris (September 27, 1980). "Magazine/Pere Ubu/Members/Dead Boys/Cramps/X/Dead Kennedys/Chelsea: Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica" (PDF). Record Mirror. London, England: Spotlight. p. 39. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "Kid Congo Powers Interview, Part Two". Bored Out. March 8, 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  7. ^ "Kid Congo Powers Oral History Pt. 4: The Cramps, Pt. 2". New York Night Train. October 31, 2005. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  8. ^ "The Cramps". Universal Music France. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  9. ^ Palmer, Robert (July 30, 1986). "The Pop Life; Evolution Of Psychobilly On New Cramps Album". The New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  10. ^ "Fur Dixon live – Edinburgh Opium. WTFukushima". The Ginger Quiff. July 16, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  11. ^ "Lux Interior - The Cramps". Punk O'Bitchuarys. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  12. ^ Johnston, Ian (February 2, 2012). "Lux Interior 5 years on, an appreciation and interview". Louder Than War. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  13. ^ Porter 2015, pp. 440–441
  14. ^ Porter 2015, p. 462
  15. ^ Porter 2015, p. 465
  16. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Fiends of Dope Island - The Cramps: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  17. ^ Porter 2015, p. 474
  18. ^ Knopper, Steve (October 22, 2004). "The Cramps have never cramped their rock style". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  19. ^ Porter 2015, pp. 477–479
  20. ^ "Gone But Not Forgotten: Lux Interior". RPM Online. February 4, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2021.