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Journey to the Centre of the Cramps
Based upon work and materials compiled for the acclaimed and now much sought after 2007 Cramps biography A Short History of Rock'n'Roll Psychosis, Journey To The Centre Of The Cramps goes far beyond being a revised and updated edition: Completely overhauled, rewritten and vastly expanded, it now represents the definitive work on the group. In addition to unseen interview material from Ivy, Lux and other former band members, Journey To The Centre Of The Cramps also sees the Cramps' story through to its conclusion, recounting Lux's unexpected death in 2009, the subsequent dissolution of the group and their enduring legacy. The Cramps' history, influences and the cast of characters in and around the group are likewise explored in far greater depth. Features unseen first-hand interview material from Lux Interior and Poison Ivy. A wealth of new interview material with former band members and other key players in the band's history and never before seen/rare photographs and ephemera to help illustrate the book.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 2015
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April 10, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIQR_...
I don’t remember exactly when I first saw this amazing footage, but I do remember thinking it was one of the coolest things I had ever seen. Granted, the audio is not great, but who cares? It amazed me that anyone could surrender themselves to their music and performance the way Lux Interior did, that his entire body was part of delivering that song to the rabid audience at his feet. And then later, I was amazed to see him interviewed: he was a soft-spoken, clearly well-read and articulate man who simply exuded kindness. In a latex suit and high heels. Ivy was even more awesome: the way she sneered as she played guitar, giving off an amazing vibe of sex and danger. I had no doubt that if anyone in the audience tried to lay a finger on her, she’d have broken her Gretsch on their head. She was, and still is, my rock and roll hero.
And I haven’t even gotten to how awesome their music is! The primal rhythm, the “less is more”, twangy guitar that both honors and gently mocks the rockabilly Lux and Ivy adored so much, the over the top lyrics about B-movies, creature features, wild sex and drug use… My parents would have hated it, but I loved it so much. It was so weird, shameless and magnificent.
The Cramps never enjoyed the mainstream-ish success that some other bands of the CBGB crowd did, but their cult following was rabid, and they toured pretty much non-stop for almost thirty years. And while drummers, rhythm guitarists and bassists came and went, the core of the band, which made it the scary/awesome beast that drew crowds all these years was Lux and Ivy. So the story of the Cramps is not just the story of a band, but also the love story of these two beautiful freaks.
While I loved the book and it’s treasure trove of detailed info, it was uneven. This happens a lot with rock bio: the first half is a detailed biography of the band members, a lot of stories about how the band got together, their first gigs, etc… and then the second half crams all their recordings at a breakneck speed because all the space is already taken up by a deep dig into how Little Richard, Elvis and crazy rockabillies had laid down the blueprints the Cramps would built themselves from. It’s a bummer that the second half isn’t as fleshed out, because I would have loved more stories about the tours and the recordings – but the context is important to truly understand the band. I did find that the ending was rather abrupt, segway-ing the fact that Lux died mid-sentence…
But despite that annoying pacing issue, I really loved reading this. I knew that Ivy was an incredible guitarist, but it was amazing to learn that she also produced almost all of the Cramps’ records, and managed the band herself for the entire duration of their career. The title of Queen of Rock and Roll is not given to her lightly! Of course, part of why she had to take on those roles is because the music industry was notoriously terrible to artists in the 70s and 80s, and the Cramps got burnt by labels, distributors and producers, and Ivy taking on those roles was the only way for them to keep making the music they wanted to make. One has to wonder what they could have accomplished had Bandcamp been a thing back then!
It’s also fascinating to hear about their influences and process directly from Lux and Ivy – who were often dismissed as a gimmick or a spoof band, when in fact, they had a very clear vision of rock and roll and were simply being their authentic, flamboyant selves.
Any fan of the band ought to pick this up; imperfect as it may be, it’s a beautiful story of love and rock and roll.
Henry Rollins on the Cramps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fO3Z...
"Lux and Ivy: the Cramps Love Story", which quotes this book a lot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j17a9...
I don’t remember exactly when I first saw this amazing footage, but I do remember thinking it was one of the coolest things I had ever seen. Granted, the audio is not great, but who cares? It amazed me that anyone could surrender themselves to their music and performance the way Lux Interior did, that his entire body was part of delivering that song to the rabid audience at his feet. And then later, I was amazed to see him interviewed: he was a soft-spoken, clearly well-read and articulate man who simply exuded kindness. In a latex suit and high heels. Ivy was even more awesome: the way she sneered as she played guitar, giving off an amazing vibe of sex and danger. I had no doubt that if anyone in the audience tried to lay a finger on her, she’d have broken her Gretsch on their head. She was, and still is, my rock and roll hero.
And I haven’t even gotten to how awesome their music is! The primal rhythm, the “less is more”, twangy guitar that both honors and gently mocks the rockabilly Lux and Ivy adored so much, the over the top lyrics about B-movies, creature features, wild sex and drug use… My parents would have hated it, but I loved it so much. It was so weird, shameless and magnificent.
The Cramps never enjoyed the mainstream-ish success that some other bands of the CBGB crowd did, but their cult following was rabid, and they toured pretty much non-stop for almost thirty years. And while drummers, rhythm guitarists and bassists came and went, the core of the band, which made it the scary/awesome beast that drew crowds all these years was Lux and Ivy. So the story of the Cramps is not just the story of a band, but also the love story of these two beautiful freaks.
While I loved the book and it’s treasure trove of detailed info, it was uneven. This happens a lot with rock bio: the first half is a detailed biography of the band members, a lot of stories about how the band got together, their first gigs, etc… and then the second half crams all their recordings at a breakneck speed because all the space is already taken up by a deep dig into how Little Richard, Elvis and crazy rockabillies had laid down the blueprints the Cramps would built themselves from. It’s a bummer that the second half isn’t as fleshed out, because I would have loved more stories about the tours and the recordings – but the context is important to truly understand the band. I did find that the ending was rather abrupt, segway-ing the fact that Lux died mid-sentence…
But despite that annoying pacing issue, I really loved reading this. I knew that Ivy was an incredible guitarist, but it was amazing to learn that she also produced almost all of the Cramps’ records, and managed the band herself for the entire duration of their career. The title of Queen of Rock and Roll is not given to her lightly! Of course, part of why she had to take on those roles is because the music industry was notoriously terrible to artists in the 70s and 80s, and the Cramps got burnt by labels, distributors and producers, and Ivy taking on those roles was the only way for them to keep making the music they wanted to make. One has to wonder what they could have accomplished had Bandcamp been a thing back then!
It’s also fascinating to hear about their influences and process directly from Lux and Ivy – who were often dismissed as a gimmick or a spoof band, when in fact, they had a very clear vision of rock and roll and were simply being their authentic, flamboyant selves.
Any fan of the band ought to pick this up; imperfect as it may be, it’s a beautiful story of love and rock and roll.
Henry Rollins on the Cramps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fO3Z...
"Lux and Ivy: the Cramps Love Story", which quotes this book a lot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j17a9...
December 25, 2018
When hearing the story of Lux Interior and Poison Ivy Rorschach one thing is abundantly clear – these two we’re destined to be with one another. While both were attending Sacramento State in the early 70’s it was a chance encounter off campus that led to their introduction. As Ivy said “I was a teenage hitchhiker and he gave me a ride. He’s been giving me a ride ever since.”
Within a fortnight the pair had shacked up and their equal passion for rock n roll became their life. Discovering old 50’s rockabilly sounds that seemed to be long forgotten, the pair knew it was their mission to bring back the gritty side of rock n roll. They packed up, moved to NYC and formed a band, The Cramps.
While managers, labels and bandmates would come and go, Lux and Ivy’s passion and determination were relentless. Ivy would act as manager, muse AND lead guitarist for the majority of the bands 30+ year career. They would perform over a thousand live shows, tour around the world and release 8 studio albums, their career only ending due to an unexpected death.
This book covers not only their story but gives facts on every their influences and every band they interacted with. Full of fascinating information, cannot recommend enough.
I recently talked about Lux & Ivy's career and relationship on my podcast Muses and Stuff. Click here to listen on our site or look us up on iTunes!
Within a fortnight the pair had shacked up and their equal passion for rock n roll became their life. Discovering old 50’s rockabilly sounds that seemed to be long forgotten, the pair knew it was their mission to bring back the gritty side of rock n roll. They packed up, moved to NYC and formed a band, The Cramps.
While managers, labels and bandmates would come and go, Lux and Ivy’s passion and determination were relentless. Ivy would act as manager, muse AND lead guitarist for the majority of the bands 30+ year career. They would perform over a thousand live shows, tour around the world and release 8 studio albums, their career only ending due to an unexpected death.
This book covers not only their story but gives facts on every their influences and every band they interacted with. Full of fascinating information, cannot recommend enough.
I recently talked about Lux & Ivy's career and relationship on my podcast Muses and Stuff. Click here to listen on our site or look us up on iTunes!
July 25, 2018
Now this is how you write a rock bio. Exquisitely detailed and researched, written with wry passion and a lot of heart, it’s a fitting document to one of the most single-minded, passionate bands in rock history. I learned a lot of things, I laughed a lot, and occasionally shook my fists at the heavens at the injustices served upon Ivy and Lux by the recording industry. And once I was done reading, I was possessed of an unshakeable need to dig out all my Cramps 45s and play them. Loudly. Which is what any great rock book should do to a reader.
Also, despite a couple of weird factual omissions and such, I’m more than happy to round up to five stars for any book that calls The Smiths, one of rock’s sorriest bands, a “kitchen-sink nostalgia quartet.” I’m still grinning over that line.
If you’ve ever seen or heard the Cramps, or if you believe wholeheartedly in the transformative power of guitar, bass, drums and sweat, you need to read this book.
Also, despite a couple of weird factual omissions and such, I’m more than happy to round up to five stars for any book that calls The Smiths, one of rock’s sorriest bands, a “kitchen-sink nostalgia quartet.” I’m still grinning over that line.
If you’ve ever seen or heard the Cramps, or if you believe wholeheartedly in the transformative power of guitar, bass, drums and sweat, you need to read this book.
July 15, 2018
So you should all know that Erick Purkhiser and Kirsty Wallace - or Lux Interior and Poison Ivy, to give them the names by which the world most readily identifies them - were The Cramps. You know: the band that invented the term psychobilly (even if they didn't think they had much in common with the double-bass music that ploughs that furrow today), who were often written off as a novelty act (because monsters) and who were stalwart protectors and exponents of the history of rock and roll.
They were teenage werewolves, dabblers in mystery (occult and chemical), bump-and-grinders, a gang, and - perhaps the most notably of all - inseparable lovers. It's this last item that Dick Porter is keen to underscore in this updated version of his Cramps biog, and rightly so: from a hitchhiking pick-up, it seems a band was always on the cards for the pair, not because they had an especial talent to do so, but because it seemed to fit them like a PVC glove. The Cramps existed as an extension of the peccadilloes of the pair, with everyone else on the stage - no matter how talented or long-tenured - a distant second.
What comes across pretty plainly is the fact that both Lux and Ivy were obsessive transgressives. They were into unpopular and forgotten shit and schtick. They loved the stranger side of life, though not nearly as cartoonishly as some detractors would suggest. There's a serious amount of study - of rock'n'roll, rockabilly, custom cars and monster movies - that goes into the Cramps, and Porter is keen to convey as much of it as possible. Thankfully, their larger-than-life personalities were enough to make me keep reading. This is, after all, a love story.
It's not the best book on a band I've ever read, but it's not the worst. That's perhaps what frustrates me most about Journey to the Centre of The Cramps: it neither shits nor gets off the pot. It's a credible recounting of their journey, and I did learn a lot about the continual label fuckery they endured - who knew that The Police were involved - but mostly it seems distressingly anodyne.
Porter's writing throughout is mostly serviceable. There's a list of references at the end of the book, but quotations aren't footnoted, so it's difficult to figure where various pronouncements would fit, chronologically speaking. Some are pretty easy to figure - there's bitchier quotes about Bryan Gregory's departure from the group that would have to be fairly close to the event - but I felt that for the most part, the quotations were adrift in a sort of continual present rather than being connected to the events as they happened. This is a shame, as we all know that reflection offers very different reactions to contemporaneous quotation.
The author is a little in love with his own turn of phrase, I suspect, and there's the occasional sense of an axe to grind, particularly where the UK press (and other UK bands) are concerned. I'm no defender of either of those things, really, but it just seems a bit childish to want to hang shit on certain outlets through the text, particularly when he's trying to communicate Lux and Ivy's idea that anyone could do what they do, could be in a band and give shit a go in the manner best befitting their personal preferences. It jars, really, because in a biography I want to feel the subjects speak - not the author.
A look through Porter's writing history shows that he's someone who writes music books, more or less. Mostly, they're about the same kind of thing: Blondie, the New York Dolls and glam. There's some newer stuff - tomes on The Darkness and The White Stripes - but it seems the Cramps' era is the one he's interested. Which is kind of cool, but seeing that he's written a bunch of similar books on similarly-placed bands, I can't help but wonder how much of the observations about styles and times found in this book are echoed elsewhere. I guess I'm trying to articulate my biggest problem with this text: given the lurid dayglo vampirism of its subject, it feels a bit... phoned in?
The Cramps are deserving of a great biography. I suspect, though, that this one will be what we're stuck with. Since Lux's death, Ivy has kept the band's fans at a remove, and I suspect that revisiting and retelling their story to another author would prove too much of a reminder of what's lost. I could always be wrong, and she could be writing a tell-all pasties-and-flickknives tale. If she is, I'll be first in line, because such a great band deserves a much better memorial than this.
For such a full-blooded bunch of freaks, a serviceable text isn't nearly a good enough testament, no matter how well-intentioned.
They were teenage werewolves, dabblers in mystery (occult and chemical), bump-and-grinders, a gang, and - perhaps the most notably of all - inseparable lovers. It's this last item that Dick Porter is keen to underscore in this updated version of his Cramps biog, and rightly so: from a hitchhiking pick-up, it seems a band was always on the cards for the pair, not because they had an especial talent to do so, but because it seemed to fit them like a PVC glove. The Cramps existed as an extension of the peccadilloes of the pair, with everyone else on the stage - no matter how talented or long-tenured - a distant second.
That’s all the Cramps is – a folie à deux.
-Poison Ivy
What comes across pretty plainly is the fact that both Lux and Ivy were obsessive transgressives. They were into unpopular and forgotten shit and schtick. They loved the stranger side of life, though not nearly as cartoonishly as some detractors would suggest. There's a serious amount of study - of rock'n'roll, rockabilly, custom cars and monster movies - that goes into the Cramps, and Porter is keen to convey as much of it as possible. Thankfully, their larger-than-life personalities were enough to make me keep reading. This is, after all, a love story.
It's not the best book on a band I've ever read, but it's not the worst. That's perhaps what frustrates me most about Journey to the Centre of The Cramps: it neither shits nor gets off the pot. It's a credible recounting of their journey, and I did learn a lot about the continual label fuckery they endured - who knew that The Police were involved - but mostly it seems distressingly anodyne.
Porter's writing throughout is mostly serviceable. There's a list of references at the end of the book, but quotations aren't footnoted, so it's difficult to figure where various pronouncements would fit, chronologically speaking. Some are pretty easy to figure - there's bitchier quotes about Bryan Gregory's departure from the group that would have to be fairly close to the event - but I felt that for the most part, the quotations were adrift in a sort of continual present rather than being connected to the events as they happened. This is a shame, as we all know that reflection offers very different reactions to contemporaneous quotation.
The author is a little in love with his own turn of phrase, I suspect, and there's the occasional sense of an axe to grind, particularly where the UK press (and other UK bands) are concerned. I'm no defender of either of those things, really, but it just seems a bit childish to want to hang shit on certain outlets through the text, particularly when he's trying to communicate Lux and Ivy's idea that anyone could do what they do, could be in a band and give shit a go in the manner best befitting their personal preferences. It jars, really, because in a biography I want to feel the subjects speak - not the author.
A look through Porter's writing history shows that he's someone who writes music books, more or less. Mostly, they're about the same kind of thing: Blondie, the New York Dolls and glam. There's some newer stuff - tomes on The Darkness and The White Stripes - but it seems the Cramps' era is the one he's interested. Which is kind of cool, but seeing that he's written a bunch of similar books on similarly-placed bands, I can't help but wonder how much of the observations about styles and times found in this book are echoed elsewhere. I guess I'm trying to articulate my biggest problem with this text: given the lurid dayglo vampirism of its subject, it feels a bit... phoned in?
The Cramps are deserving of a great biography. I suspect, though, that this one will be what we're stuck with. Since Lux's death, Ivy has kept the band's fans at a remove, and I suspect that revisiting and retelling their story to another author would prove too much of a reminder of what's lost. I could always be wrong, and she could be writing a tell-all pasties-and-flickknives tale. If she is, I'll be first in line, because such a great band deserves a much better memorial than this.
For such a full-blooded bunch of freaks, a serviceable text isn't nearly a good enough testament, no matter how well-intentioned.
March 4, 2021
The perfect book for super-fans of The Cramps. I say this because the author goes into quite a bit of detail about the band so the coverage is pretty comprehensive. I enjoyed reading about them but must admit, I already knew so much about them from reading other sources. I liked that there were a lot of quotes from both Lux and Ivy, which showed they worked closely with the author. One thing I sometimes skipped over were the detours the author took when describing other bands that other members of The Cramps played in, which I didn't find necessary - and believe me, there were a LOT of band members outside of Lux and Ivy who came and went in revolving door fashion. One had to read between the lines to figure out why. However, I loved seeing the band live and did so many times so it was good to read about them.
July 24, 2016
Difícil precisar el aporte de una biografía cuando hay sentimientos involucrados - particularmente, mi devoción a este bastión incomprendido del rock'n'roll -. Superado ese obstáculo, puede considerarse a este libro (suerte de versión corregida y aumentada para el volumen previo The Cramps: A Short History of Rock 'n' Roll Psychosis) un documento enorme e ineludible, tanto para fans como para interesados.
Porque fuera del abundante dato duro, el repaso a los insólitos personajes que pasaron por sus filas (presentados en hermosas fotografías) y las extravagantes anécdotas, el gran aporte del biógrafo Dick Porter (quien firma trabajos similares sobre Blondie, Ramones, The New York Dolls y otros) es revelar como gran motor de The Cramps al amor entre Erick Purkisher y Kristy Wallace; amor que vertieron en su música bajo las personalidades de Lux Interior y Poison Ivy Rorschach, sin ceder a las exigencias de su época y soportando el prejuicio de una escena que nunca se los tomó completamente en serio, aun cuando contaron con el respeto de músicos como The Ramones e Iggy Pop y teniendo entre sus mayores seguidores a un joven Steven Patrick Morrissey. Excéntricos por naturaleza, ambiciosos por decisión, su historia refleja la esencia del rock'n'roll rebelde en su honestidad; ese mismo que - en años de cantantes prefabricados por la televisión - parece todavía más extraño.
Porque fuera del abundante dato duro, el repaso a los insólitos personajes que pasaron por sus filas (presentados en hermosas fotografías) y las extravagantes anécdotas, el gran aporte del biógrafo Dick Porter (quien firma trabajos similares sobre Blondie, Ramones, The New York Dolls y otros) es revelar como gran motor de The Cramps al amor entre Erick Purkisher y Kristy Wallace; amor que vertieron en su música bajo las personalidades de Lux Interior y Poison Ivy Rorschach, sin ceder a las exigencias de su época y soportando el prejuicio de una escena que nunca se los tomó completamente en serio, aun cuando contaron con el respeto de músicos como The Ramones e Iggy Pop y teniendo entre sus mayores seguidores a un joven Steven Patrick Morrissey. Excéntricos por naturaleza, ambiciosos por decisión, su historia refleja la esencia del rock'n'roll rebelde en su honestidad; ese mismo que - en años de cantantes prefabricados por la televisión - parece todavía más extraño.
March 11, 2022
The cramps are great & as an intro this book is…fine. Like many other reviewers note it does a thorough job of detailing the history of the cramps but for such a vibrant and exciting band this often felt dry and a slog to get through certain sections. I just Feel that there’s a way more exciting and emotionally charged retelling of the cramps in there SOMEWHERE - especially given Lux & Ivy as people and their passions and relationship - but this doesn’t quite do it for me. Still glad I read it though as it’s certainly a fine jumping off point
May 2, 2023
Journey to the Centre of the Cramps is a terrific means to get a band-approved telling of the complete story of Lux Interior and Poison Ivy, how they met and formed the band, along with complete discography info. There isn't a better source for this information, so for that I'm grateful to have this book. The writing is a bit sloppy, though, and it would have helped to have an editor whip it into better shape. What we have is largely the band's opinion about most everything, where it would have helped to have more fact-based storytelling and behind-the-scenes information that would have augmented Lux and Ivy's interviews rather than relying on those interviews as complete fact. Still, an easy read and probably as complete a band bio as we're likely to get on The Cramps.
February 13, 2023
The first half of this is like five-stars awesome. The second half is perfunctory as if the writer lost interest. Lux dying is treated as an aside, casually dropped mid-paragraph! It’s expanded from an earlier book, maybe the rewrite was done under a too-tight deadline.
November 25, 2017
let's start with the big question, shall we? is this the definitive biography of the cramps that we're all hoping it is? no. no it's not!
the cramps were an astonishing band. in sound, vision and attitude they were the greatest exponents of rock 'n' roll to ever tramp the surface of the planet. lux and ivy's vision was pure, unwavering in belief, and both possessed the knowledge and the tools to outrocknroll them all. be it elvis, little richard, link wray, warren smith and all the classic rockabilly artists, whoever (let's face it, they all burned out - the cramps never did), the cramps, to many, were the ultimate. as well as possessors of a live show that never fell short of 'killer'! to the book then..........
it may or may not help to have read dick porter's previous biography 'a short history of rock 'n' roll psychosis', of which this book is the beefed up expanded version of, but if you have this book there is little need for the first (unless you are very wealthy). strangely, for an updated version, it has a new cover (the cover photograph on this couldn't have chosen better. it is perfect), a new title (again, fine) and a whole different gallery of excellent photographs. all good. it doesn't feel like the initial book either, so i guess that justifies the changes, and also is to be thought of as positive.
as far as outside agencies go, the cramps were/are a closed shop, and neither ivy nor lux have direct input to this, but are quoted extensively from a number of other sources, entertaining and verging on sensible, as most of these are, it was a greatly frustrating excercise to read forward and back again to ascertain whether the quotes are attributed to lux or ivy. this served to break the rhythm of what is generally a good read, and should perhaps have been subject to an easier to distinguish format. the 'guts' of the first book - that which has been expanded, truly has, and more detail has been added along with facts here and there which are new to me, and does nothing but build up a more accurate 'bigger picture'. however, the period from where the last book left off and the present could have done with the same beefing up, and leaves the impression of having been rushed, the author runs through album releases and (the many) personnel changes without much detail to further inform the reader to a fitting level. again, the lack of direct band involvement might have dictated this. it does feel a little disappointing to have a final, and brilliant, album like 'fiends of dope island' given scant coverage over a couple of pages. the same amount of space is given to lux's passing, surely a couple of (literally two) quotes from others is grossly insufficient and verging on the flippant. this is basically where the book ends, with little more than a couple of lines dedicated to informing us of ivy's feelings and post cramps life. of course we're interested!
this biography, in general, is a fine and informative read, up until the last twenty or so pages. this begs the question of why the author thought fit to produce an expanded volume, when it ends quite so poorly. this is a pity, as printed material on the cramps is thin on the ground. really only this, the initial book and the ian johnstone book, 'the wild wild world of the cramps', all of which have their good points and are valid regarding the history of the band, but none are, or come close to being, definitive - that will probably have to wait until either ivy picks up a pen, or commisions someone to do it on her behalf. it might never happen then.
the cramps were an astonishing band. in sound, vision and attitude they were the greatest exponents of rock 'n' roll to ever tramp the surface of the planet. lux and ivy's vision was pure, unwavering in belief, and both possessed the knowledge and the tools to outrocknroll them all. be it elvis, little richard, link wray, warren smith and all the classic rockabilly artists, whoever (let's face it, they all burned out - the cramps never did), the cramps, to many, were the ultimate. as well as possessors of a live show that never fell short of 'killer'! to the book then..........
it may or may not help to have read dick porter's previous biography 'a short history of rock 'n' roll psychosis', of which this book is the beefed up expanded version of, but if you have this book there is little need for the first (unless you are very wealthy). strangely, for an updated version, it has a new cover (the cover photograph on this couldn't have chosen better. it is perfect), a new title (again, fine) and a whole different gallery of excellent photographs. all good. it doesn't feel like the initial book either, so i guess that justifies the changes, and also is to be thought of as positive.
as far as outside agencies go, the cramps were/are a closed shop, and neither ivy nor lux have direct input to this, but are quoted extensively from a number of other sources, entertaining and verging on sensible, as most of these are, it was a greatly frustrating excercise to read forward and back again to ascertain whether the quotes are attributed to lux or ivy. this served to break the rhythm of what is generally a good read, and should perhaps have been subject to an easier to distinguish format. the 'guts' of the first book - that which has been expanded, truly has, and more detail has been added along with facts here and there which are new to me, and does nothing but build up a more accurate 'bigger picture'. however, the period from where the last book left off and the present could have done with the same beefing up, and leaves the impression of having been rushed, the author runs through album releases and (the many) personnel changes without much detail to further inform the reader to a fitting level. again, the lack of direct band involvement might have dictated this. it does feel a little disappointing to have a final, and brilliant, album like 'fiends of dope island' given scant coverage over a couple of pages. the same amount of space is given to lux's passing, surely a couple of (literally two) quotes from others is grossly insufficient and verging on the flippant. this is basically where the book ends, with little more than a couple of lines dedicated to informing us of ivy's feelings and post cramps life. of course we're interested!
this biography, in general, is a fine and informative read, up until the last twenty or so pages. this begs the question of why the author thought fit to produce an expanded volume, when it ends quite so poorly. this is a pity, as printed material on the cramps is thin on the ground. really only this, the initial book and the ian johnstone book, 'the wild wild world of the cramps', all of which have their good points and are valid regarding the history of the band, but none are, or come close to being, definitive - that will probably have to wait until either ivy picks up a pen, or commisions someone to do it on her behalf. it might never happen then.
November 7, 2020
Absolutely required reading for any more-than-casual Cramps fan. I’ve been obsessively listening to the Cramps since the first time I heard them in my friend’s car a long, long time ago, and after reading their story I now listen to them with the an even deeper connection and with new excitement.
This book thoroughly covers the bands history, but most importantly it references a multitude of influences and gives fans the “How and Why” behind their sound and mission. The Cramps set me off on a 50’s rock-and-roll journey through their sound, and now the book practically provides a road map for direct influences to the Cramps - my speakers and ears will be busy for a while.
Written almost like a story-telling sit-down interview, this book seamlessly injects quotes from the band and other characters as if they were with me telling me the story. It was done better than any other band book I’ve read and left me with far more of an education than I was expecting.
One great surprise of this book is the Cramps domination of CBGB. I thought I had a working knowledge of the CBGB scene through the story of bands like the Ramones and Blondie, but I feel like I was only aware of the story as it pertained to “commercially successful” bands. The Cramps story running through the story of CBGB is revealed in this book and helps combine with the mainstream knowledge of that scene to give the reader a fuller understanding of what it was like.
With the 50’s rock-and-roll knowledge, and a view of 70’s NYC scene not often talked about, this book has value for any reader - not just Cramps fans. But, as a Cramps fan, this book is fuckin’ fantastic!
This book thoroughly covers the bands history, but most importantly it references a multitude of influences and gives fans the “How and Why” behind their sound and mission. The Cramps set me off on a 50’s rock-and-roll journey through their sound, and now the book practically provides a road map for direct influences to the Cramps - my speakers and ears will be busy for a while.
Written almost like a story-telling sit-down interview, this book seamlessly injects quotes from the band and other characters as if they were with me telling me the story. It was done better than any other band book I’ve read and left me with far more of an education than I was expecting.
One great surprise of this book is the Cramps domination of CBGB. I thought I had a working knowledge of the CBGB scene through the story of bands like the Ramones and Blondie, but I feel like I was only aware of the story as it pertained to “commercially successful” bands. The Cramps story running through the story of CBGB is revealed in this book and helps combine with the mainstream knowledge of that scene to give the reader a fuller understanding of what it was like.
With the 50’s rock-and-roll knowledge, and a view of 70’s NYC scene not often talked about, this book has value for any reader - not just Cramps fans. But, as a Cramps fan, this book is fuckin’ fantastic!
November 21, 2020
This felt like a book of two halves. It begins with Lux. A small boy in a small town. Verging on street hoodlum. He discovers music and the love affair with rockabilly begins. I loved reading about how he was drawn to a charasmatic DJ, trashy horror movies and vinyl records. He moves away to college and meets Ivy. Kismit and pyschedelic trips. With Ivy already able to play guitar, they run away to New York to form a band. The description of 70s New York and the burgeoning punk scene is great. All the bands playing CBGBs and Max's Kansas City, as they recruited people into their gang...to create The Cramps. The writing of songs, development of stage presence and eventually recording their first album. But somehow The Cramps don't fit in with the other punk bands in NY. UK and Europe embrace their style and rock and roll tour stories begin.
We get to know Lux, Ivy, Bryan and Nick. But then the line up changes begin. Enter Kid Congo Powers. The unfortunate thing is that after this period of the band, we see an ever rotating array of members. The second half of the books feels like 'record album, replace member, tour, replace member' and we loose site of the earlier feel of the book. It seems like we are skimming through the latter half of their career.
We are left in no doubt though, that Lux and Ivy are the real deal. They weren't playing characters or personas. They lived their lives as we saw them. Their's is a kitch, left of centre, delightfully weird love story. We see Lux's charisma and Ivy's talent for guitar playing, producing, negotiating and managing.
Biographies can be complicated. Should you be a fan or try to be objective? Some aspects of The Cramps seem a little glossed over (the drug taking) as it focusses on the bands albums, tours, influences and fans. The only other questionable aspect of this book is how it approaches Lux's death. Mentioned about a page before the book ends. I think there was scope to write further about their profound influence and lasting impact on music. How people reacted to Lux's untimely death. But I was comforted to read that Kid Congo said he and others check in on Ivy regularly. In the 10 years since Lux left us, I have often wondered how Ivy was coping without her soul mate, and if she still plays guitar. Perhaps one day we'll find out.
This book was great for someone like me, who loves The Cramps music but didn't know a lot about their history. Lux and Ivy remain an inspiration for being yourself and wearing your influences on your sleeve. Showing the world you can get older and still be the coolest people in the room. For being oddball relationship goals and for giving us their music.
We get to know Lux, Ivy, Bryan and Nick. But then the line up changes begin. Enter Kid Congo Powers. The unfortunate thing is that after this period of the band, we see an ever rotating array of members. The second half of the books feels like 'record album, replace member, tour, replace member' and we loose site of the earlier feel of the book. It seems like we are skimming through the latter half of their career.
We are left in no doubt though, that Lux and Ivy are the real deal. They weren't playing characters or personas. They lived their lives as we saw them. Their's is a kitch, left of centre, delightfully weird love story. We see Lux's charisma and Ivy's talent for guitar playing, producing, negotiating and managing.
Biographies can be complicated. Should you be a fan or try to be objective? Some aspects of The Cramps seem a little glossed over (the drug taking) as it focusses on the bands albums, tours, influences and fans. The only other questionable aspect of this book is how it approaches Lux's death. Mentioned about a page before the book ends. I think there was scope to write further about their profound influence and lasting impact on music. How people reacted to Lux's untimely death. But I was comforted to read that Kid Congo said he and others check in on Ivy regularly. In the 10 years since Lux left us, I have often wondered how Ivy was coping without her soul mate, and if she still plays guitar. Perhaps one day we'll find out.
This book was great for someone like me, who loves The Cramps music but didn't know a lot about their history. Lux and Ivy remain an inspiration for being yourself and wearing your influences on your sleeve. Showing the world you can get older and still be the coolest people in the room. For being oddball relationship goals and for giving us their music.
June 5, 2022
When you pick up a hitch hiker and then you both immediately bond over a shared love of vintage rockabilly, B-movies and fifties horror comics there is a good chance you may have just found your true partner in life. Really, what are the odds?
Although Journey to the Centre of The Cramps is a straight up tale on the history and misadventures of everyone's favourite ghoul rockers, you don't have to dig much deeper to realise it is also one of the greatest rock romances of all time.
Although there were fresh lineup changes with almost every album and tour, two elements remained a constant throughout. Lux Interior and Poison Ivy Rorschach - The Cramps founders and creative nucleus, remained so utterly devoted to each other and so true to their shared purpose that it seemed to virtually make the pair bullet-proof.
Author Dick Porter has a tremendous knack of seamlessly weaving the overall narrative with interviews and past quotes in a way that is so effective it almost seems like Lux and Ivy are over his shoulder, helping him write it.
The Cramps were incredible enough in and of themselves. The fact that those two lovable misfits found each other in the first place to live out their dream together and tip rock music on its head is nothing short of a miracle.
A sleazy but heartwarming tale about all the things that actually matter.
Although Journey to the Centre of The Cramps is a straight up tale on the history and misadventures of everyone's favourite ghoul rockers, you don't have to dig much deeper to realise it is also one of the greatest rock romances of all time.
Although there were fresh lineup changes with almost every album and tour, two elements remained a constant throughout. Lux Interior and Poison Ivy Rorschach - The Cramps founders and creative nucleus, remained so utterly devoted to each other and so true to their shared purpose that it seemed to virtually make the pair bullet-proof.
Author Dick Porter has a tremendous knack of seamlessly weaving the overall narrative with interviews and past quotes in a way that is so effective it almost seems like Lux and Ivy are over his shoulder, helping him write it.
The Cramps were incredible enough in and of themselves. The fact that those two lovable misfits found each other in the first place to live out their dream together and tip rock music on its head is nothing short of a miracle.
A sleazy but heartwarming tale about all the things that actually matter.
June 29, 2018
It's okay, I guess. I was expecting so much more. Like another reviewer said, the Cramps deserved much better. Even as a die hard fan I found it hard to finish. At least the topic is interesting. I kept going from two stars to three. Let's stick with three. The book is about the Cramps after all. Often overlook in punk rock history, a full monography about them is already something.
February 10, 2020
Hoo-wee is this book dry. The writing has no flair at all, it just simply states facts in huge uninterrupted chunks. Would never imagine that a book about The Cramps--of all bands/-could be so boring.
It gives me no pleasure to write this review. The two stars are for the excellent photographs included.
It gives me no pleasure to write this review. The two stars are for the excellent photographs included.
August 4, 2023
I was fortunate enough to see The Cramps live three times between 1986-1990 and each show was superb. You knew they were living the experience rather than playacting and that sense of authenticity is also evident in this comprehensive account which is packed with detail and love. The Cramps were one of a kind but also champions of their roots. This account is highly recommended.
July 5, 2020
I’m glad I got to learn a bit more about the greatest PURE ROCK N’ ROLL band that walked the earth but it was really dry, basically dates and names and interview quotes from Lux and Ivy but nothing really insider.
November 20, 2021
Thorough, especially the discography at the back, but kind of dry. Interesting because I didn't know much about the history of the Cramps other than that they were FABULOUS live. Gave me lots of chronological insight into the band but not much feel for them.
April 14, 2023
a love story, very thankful that they are them, it’s a miracle two people so perfect for each other found each other and fulfilled their purpose making art, the book will open you up to hearing so much love in their music and live shows (note to self watch Blood Feast)
January 18, 2018
Functional. Does little more than compile existing material into a narrative under one cover. They deserve better.
May 28, 2019
Love story/rock + roll history lesson
August 29, 2022
Great band, but a so-so book.
January 10, 2023
The best - perhaps only? - book about the Cramps, and a great read, especially about their early years. My only complaint is that the later years aren't as detailed, but still a great read.
January 9, 2024
Do you know what this book told me? I said, do you know what this book tried to tell me? It said, ooh,eee, ah-ah, ooh, eee, ah-ah, etc.
August 30, 2016
As a peek into the world of Lux and Ivy JTTCOTC does a great job. I learned a lot about their romance/partnership, their musical and cinematic passions and devotion to their own musical path. There's lots of quotes that tell events in their own words. I saw them perform live in Australia in the 1980s and reading this really connected to that concert, the energy, the music and the love the put into their music. For a larger insight into their musical heritage and extraordinary record collection I recommend you seek out the first of the Incredibly Strange Music books (ReSearch) which will take you even deeper. Oh, one last thing, the cover is killer and one that seems to intrique fellow travellers on public transport.
August 23, 2016
While this is one of those chronological type rock bios ie 'on September 21, 1979 they played CBGB with Ramones then toured England later that year' and doesn't really go into the lives of the artists in any great details, it does give you a persepctive on how profoundly influential the Cramps were on the modern underground rock sound, but also image/fashion wise as well. Not only were they at the forefront of keeping old-school rock n' roll alive, their influnce goes into garage punk, psych, even shoegaze!! ALso their championing of classic rock and roll when everyone wanted to be pretentious art-twat is undeniably great and important.
March 10, 2015
As an overview of the band, it’ll do. It covers the basics fairly thoroughly, and utilizes existing interviews to compile the lifetime of the band from beginning to end. The writing is functional, and sometimes even good. It cribs blog writings and interviews, without crediting them. Visually, this should be a big floppy paperback in lurid color. It’s not. Still, it’s the only one available. It reads quick and easy.
August 25, 2016
Imprescindible recorrido por la historia de una banda singular, icónica y fundamental, o lo que es casi lo mismo, un viaje a través del universo personal de sus dos miembros fundadores: Lux Interior & Poison Ivy. Serie B, cómics, drogas, sexo y rock'n'roll, y por encima de todo, tal y como define el autor, una gran historia de amor americana.
June 26, 2015
A true love story
This is very much the story of Lux and Ivy. You wish for more information, as you wish for more music. Unfortunately you can't always get what you want.
This is very much the story of Lux and Ivy. You wish for more information, as you wish for more music. Unfortunately you can't always get what you want.
July 2, 2016
Most up to date view of the Cramps , sanctioned by Ivy , since the untimely death of Lux .
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