Longtime Cramps leader Lux Interior has died at the age of 62.
The singer, who formed the band in 1976, had a heart condition and died in a California hospital.
Always a cult act, the band fused b-movie horror imagery with vintage rockabilly rock’n’roll and twanging surf guitars. The primitive sound was an obvious influence on bands such as The White Stripes and Pussy Galore.
Interior – whose real name was Erick Lee Purkhiser – was a little older than his contemporaries on the New York punk scene, pushing 30 by the time the band – which featured a fairly fluid line-up over the years – formed. He met his wife Poison Ivy, a key member of the band’s line-up four years earlier.
Rumours circulated two decades ago that he died from a drug overdose. "At first, I thought it was kind of funny, but then it started to give me a creepy feeling," he said of the incident.
A statement from his publicist said: "Lux has been an inspiration and influence to millions of artists and fans around the world. He and wife Poison Ivy's contributions with the Cramps have had an immeasurable impact on modern music. He is a rare icon who will be missed dearly."
Relive his genius below ...
10:47 AM | 05/02/2009
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