Bed on Fire? SHINDIG!!

On the cover of a magazine....

When I took this photo way back in 1978, I KNEW it was magazine and record-cover worthy. I even told Miles Copeland (founder of IRS Records, and someone I have known since we were children) that The Cramps had staying power. I’m not sure he bought it at the time, but he did eventually release some records by them, namely: Gravest Hits (an EP, released nearly two years after they recorded it), Songs The Lord Taught Us (1980) [both these records were produced in Memphis by Alex Chilton. The lineup is Lux, Ivy, Nick Knox, and Bryan Gregory], and Psychedelic Jungle, released in 1981 on the 22nd birthday of their new guitarist, Kid Congo Powers, whose given name is Brian Tristan. The Cramps changed his name, and I think it quite suits him!

me and lifelong friend, Kid. We are now aged 68 and 67

Before they even set foot on a Los Angeles nightclub stage, they were legendary to us. Their fans remain the most dedicated I’ve ever encountered.

The Cramps were more than a band, they were a lifestyle. They were not stuck in time, but rather completely ensconced in their own delicious world of B movies, go-go girls, fuzzy guitars, and supernatural strangeness. And slowly, we began to lose them. Although he had long been out of the band, guitarist Bryan Gregory was the first to shuffle off this mortal coil, in 2001. Lux passed in 2009, and drummer Nick Knox in 2018.

Issue 178 of Shindig! Magazine recounts the essentials of Cramps history and explains how the combination of In the Red Records’ Larry Hardy, Henry Rollins, and Ian McKaye joined forces with Poison Ivy to resurrect The Cramps in a way to bring their dedicated fans, both current and lifelong, bonafide recordings and merch of high and consistent quality produced with the approval of Ivy’s own meticulous eyes and ears. I won’t tell you the whole story because Shindig does, as do MOJO and multiple magazines. I’m pleased and honored to have my photos in these publications alongside those of my friends David Godlis and the late Stephanie Chernikowski.

You cannot take a bad photo of that band!

Last year, I posted the origin story of that photo, and it’s linked here - and below the story are links to buy that iconic photo. There is a link in the reposted story for the 8x10” softcover 24 page photo book (it’s → here too! ← if you aren’t clicking on the story but want the book)

Here are the links to buy CRAMPS photos.

If you are a paid subscriber, your links with discount are below the paywall divider (which you won’t see, cuz you’re not paywalled)

11 x 14 Open Edition (not signed) click → here ←

11 x 14 Fine Art Print (signed) click → here ←

Gift certificate if you want a photo but not sure what. Click → here ←

THANK YOU!

Paid subscribers, your links are below the “subscribe” pitch!