Saturday, May 19, 2007

Human Fly

"We're the Cramps, and we're from New York City..."

Johnny Yen mentioned this video, shot at a mental hospital, in a comment on his blog. And then I realized I haven't put up any Cramps videos in a while. So here's a Cramps video:

9 comments:

jin said...

Wow...I was only 11 when that video was filmed.

:-P

Mob said...

Um, I was ten.

Had I heard it at the time, I'd have probably wondered what sort of Devil music you were playing, and now I of course love it.

How times change, eh?

jin said...

Ohhhhh....bubsy dahling...
Look!

Johnny Yen said...

I first saw that vid when my now-ex-wife, who'd been in the music business, played a 3rd or 4th generation video of that show for me. I regretted not making a copy before we split.

As I mentioned to Grant, it's on a DVD now-- It's called "The Cramps: Live at Napa State Mental Hospital." My favorite part of the DVD is when the woman gets up on stage with them and loudly declares "I got the cramps!"

Joe said...

The video was shot in 1978, not 1984.

Mob, I've seen the Cramps four times over the decades. The firs time was in 1979 opening for Talking Heads--it was pretty much a straight on punk rock/psychobilly show. The next time was in the early 80's and they were raunchier. Then in 1985/86 when "A Date with Elvis" came out they were OBSCENE. I remember thinking, good lord, if people in 1954 had known this is how rock and roll would turn out they'd have killed Elvis on the spot.

Jin. Oh...my...god.

Johnny, the DVD is probably better quality, no?

Barbara Bruederlin said...

Cool! I wonder what the inmates thought of them?

Johnny Yen said...

It's pretty rough still-- I remember reading that it was shot on the first camcorder that was available to consumers-- hence the black and white. It's pretty damned entertaining though.

The Cramps are on my list of bands I still need to see.

Moderator said...

I've seen the whole video before. One messed up concert. Lux is one of the best singers ever.

Erik Donald France said...

Viva the Cramps!!!!!!!!