The nucleus of the Cramps is singer Lux Interior (originally from Akron, Ohio) and guitarist Poison Ivy Rorschach (a native of California), who met in Sacramento, Calif.in 1972 and found common ground in b-grade horror movies and early rock 'n' roll.The couple relocated to New York in 1975, where they met guitarist Bryan Gregory; a friendfrom Ohio, Miriam Linna, became the group's first drummer. The Cramps became instantfavorites at the famed CBGBs in New York, performing with nascent superstars like Suicide, the Ramones,and the Dead Boys. Linna soon left the band, later founding the successful garage labelNorton Records.
Recruiting Ohio drummer Nick Knox, the Cramps headed to Memphis, Tenn. in 1977 to recordwith Alex Chilton at the famous Sam Phillips Studios. Their self-released debut single,"Surfin' Bird" b/w "The Way I Walk," sold over 6,000 copies and was followed by a WestCoast tour, where the band played a now-legendary show at the Napa State Mental Hospitalnear San Francisco. Their second self-released single, 1978's "Human Fly" b/w "Domino,"led to a deal with IRS Records, which reissued the early Cramps singles as Gravest Hitsand issued their debut full-length, 1980's Songs the Lord Taught Us. Following a European tour with the Fall, guitarist Bryan Gregory freaked out and drove off in the band van, taking all of their equipment with him; he later became an occult leader.
After the Cramps relocated to Los Angeles, Gregory was replaced by ex-Gun Club guitarist Kid Congo Powers, with whom they recorded their second album, 1981'sPsychedelic Jungle. The band became embroiled in a dispute with IRS overdistribution, and for the next three years could not release any albums while the courtssorted things out. During this time Nick Knox went blind in one eye and Kid CongoPowers returned to Gun Club; Nick's brother Ike was brought in on guitar, and Ivyswitched to bass. After a 1985 settlement with IRS that released the Cramps from theircontract, A Date With Elvis was released and sold well despite limited distribution.
After several years of touring, the Cramps returned in 1990 with Stay Sick, theirfirst album for major-label-affiliate Engima Records; shortly after 1991's Look Mom, NoHead!, Enigma went bankrupt. The Knox brothers left the band before the Cramps signed to Warner Bros. in 1993. Their 1994 major-label debut,Flamejob, was recorded with bassist Slim Chance and ex-Bad Seeds drummerJim Sclavunos.