Their line-up has rotated much over the past couple of decades, with husband and wife Lux Interior and Poison Ivy--the lead singer and lead guitarist, respectively--as the only permanent members.
Lux picked up Ivy when he was driving on the highway. Ivy had raised her hand for an auto stop, Lux stopped his car and ...fate brought them together.
They were part of the early CBGB's punk rock movement that had emerged in New York, although they had formed several years earlier in California. The band is credited as a prominent factor in terms of influence on the gothabilly genre.
Their sound was heavily influenced by early rockabilly and proto-rock'n'roll like Link Wray and Hasil Adkins, 1960s surf music acts such as The Ventures, The Surfaris and Dick Dale, 1960s garage rock artists like The Standells, The Gants, The Trashmen, The Green Fuz and The Sonics, as well as the post-glam/early punk scene from which they emerged. They also were influenced to a degree by The Ramones as well as Screamin' Jay Hawkins, who is often credited for having pioneered their style of theatrical horror-blues.
On February 4, 2009, Lux Interior died of a pre-existing heart condition at the age of 62.
Discography:
Albums & EPs:
Gravest Hits
Songs The Lord Taught Us
Psychedelic Jungle
A Date with Elvis
Stay Sick!
Look Mom No Head!
Blues Fix
Flamejob
Big Beat from Badsville
Fiends of Dope Island
Live albums:
Smell of Female
Rockin n Reelin in Auckland New Zealand
Singles:
"Surfin' Bird" / "The Way I Walk" "Human Fly" / "Domino" "Fever" / "Garbageman" "Garbageman" / "TV Set" "Garbageman" / "Drug Train" "Drug Train" "Goo Goo Muck" "The Crusher" "Faster Pussycat" "I Ain't Nuthin' But a Gorehound" "Can Your Pussy Do the Dog?" "What's Inside a Girl?" "Kizmiaz" "Get Off the Road" "Bikini Girls with Machine Guns" "All Women Are Bad" "Creature from the Black Leather Lagoon" "Eyeball in My Martini" "Let's Get Fucked Up" / "How Come You Do Me?" "Ultra Twist!" "Naked Girl Falling Down the Stairs" "Like a Bad Girl Should" "Big Black Witchcraft Rock"
Compilations
...Off the Bone Bad Music for Bad People How to Make a Monster The Secret Life of the Cramps
The Creature From the Black Leather Lagoon
The Cramps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In The Cramps's song The Creature From the Black Leather Lagoon, the lyrics imply that the singer is a monster created by their devilish father. The monster is described as being beautiful and hailing from outer space, and has learned to dance by taking tips from Satan himself. The creature is also characterized as being a "chicken-fried fire-eatin' son of a gun" who is much like a hundred billion hydrogen bombs. Although the creature is described in a rather scary and negative light, it also implies that the singer is proud of their monstrous heritage.
The chorus of the song repeats lines about black leather and smashing, killing, and crashing, which can be interpreted as references to the subculture of punk rock, where black leather and aggression are often celebrated. The lyrics suggest that the creature from the black leather lagoon is a symbol of rebellion against societal norms, embodied in the figure of a monster created through a devilish union.
Overall, the song can be seen as a celebration of punk rock, rebellion, and individuality, with the creature from the black leather lagoon serving as an emblematic figure for these themes.
Line by Line Meaning
Better ask my momma how to make a monster...
I come from strange origins and have a chaotic nature, likely inherited from my parents.
i'm the creature from the black leather lagoon,
I am a fearsome and alluring being, much like the classic monster tales from lore.
i'm a beautiful monster from outer space, too,
My appearance is unique and otherworldly, adding to my mystery and intrigue.
learned how to shake my hips in the inner sanctum,
I have developed a skill that adds to my seductive and dangerous persona.
satan gave me tips and then i thanked him,
I have embraced my dark side and gained power from it, actively seeking to improve upon my already formidable abilities.
i'm the creature from the black leather lagoon
I am an unstoppable and unforgettable presence that others will never forget once they have encountered me.
black black, black black leather, smash smash, black black leather, kill kill, black black leather, crash crash, black black leather,
The imagery of this chorus speaks to my violent and destructive nature - I am here to conquer and destroy all in my path.
i'm a chicken-fried fire-eatin' son of a gun, concieved by my devil daddy on a chicken run,
My origins are steeped in darkness and chaos, with my father being a devil and my conception taking place on a particularly wild chicken run.
like a fireball flyin' down thunder road, daddy made mama but she shoulda said no,
The speed and power with which I move would leave most in awe or fear, however, my coming into existence was not without some scandal, as my mother likely regrets her decision to mate with my devilish father.
i'm the raw Hyde monster they named number 1
As a monstrosity that has surpassed all before me, others have named me as the top monster to watch out for or perhaps to emulate.
i'm a genuine juvenille delinquent from the moon,
As someone who lives outside the norms of society and has likely committed crimes or misdeeds, I am an unpredictable and exciting figure.
i'm like a hundred billion hydrogen bombs, mama wanted a goat, but i got mom's,
The incredible destructive potential of my power is rivaled only by the bizarre and irreverent events that have led to my existence.
i'm the creature from the black leather lagoon
Throughout all of my images, stories, and lore, the central consistent presence is that of myself - the creature that all others should fear and respect.
Contributed by Asher E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.