R.I.P. Lux

I saw The Cramps play when in 1997, when I was 16. (It sounds like a long time ago and kind of impressive, except I know there are people out there who are like "Whatever, I saw them in 1978 when I was 12" or some shit, as the punks and goths are prone to doing.) Anyway, they played for 3 hours and Lux stalked around the stage in his heels and PVC catsuit and talked so much awesome shit to the audience (most of whom were not there to see them, but were teenagers who hung out at this all-ages club nightly) about how he was "punk rock before it was all about studded bracelets and shit" and it was amazing and hilarious and so much fun. It was absolutely the best show I've ever seen in my life. I am so seriously sad that can't ever happen again.

Lux Interior, you were too fucking awesome.

And he kept playing shows, still all balls out I'm sure, until he was 60. Good. Lord.

I also used to have a double sided poster of The Cramps hanging on my wall that had a band picture on one side and the cover for "Flamejob" on the other side. It was a promo-poster they sent out for the album when it came out and the dude who worked at the record store across from my high school gave it to me cause I was a gothy punk rock 13 year old and he figured I was a fan. And he said "This will probably be the ugliest poster in your room" I guess referring to Lux and the boys, cause Poison Ivy looks pretty damn sexy on that Flamejob side. And I would totally rock out to "Let's Get Fucked Up" and try to decide what side I wanted to put up on my wall each month.

I really wish I still had that poster.