Lux & Ivy: The Cramps Love Story (Full Documentary)

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I saw The Cramps when I was 16 and I am 51 now. I had been listening to Bad Music for Bad People for a few years at that point but had never seen what they looked like and had no idea what to expect. The first site I got of Lux was him coming out on stage which I was right up against and he just walked right out and spit wine all over us. Ivy had a on a gold bikini and there was red pubic hair hanging out all over the place. I left the show bleeding and with a busted lip from being punched in the mouth by a guy with a Liberty spike Mohawk and cut my hand on a busted beer bottle from slipping and falling on the glass from the beer on the floor. I also involuntarily learned what the sweat from another man’s back tasted like. It was the best show I have ever seen.

No one ever believes that I saw the Cramps at Napa State Hospital, but I did. I grew up in Napa, three generations of my family worked at the hospital at one time or another. A buddy of mine got wind of the Cramps doing a show there through a San Francisco D.J. friend of his. Long story short, the show was outside and you could hear a mile away, we simply walked in, and it was great!

I catered for the cramps and they were beautiful people. Their catering Ryder demanded that all left overs must be donated to a local food bank. Ivy called the venue I worked at the next day to ensure that it was in fact donated. I received the call just after I got back from the food bank. They were beautiful!

I met Lux at a show in Hollywood, '99. Being from Iowa and seeing Cramps 12" singles going for $25 each (I know), and drinking all day, I saw him in the crowd at a show that night. I came up on him and said "I ALMOST bought one of your records today but they were too expensive!" He pinched my arm and "Ya skin flint!" We both laughed. A cherished memory.

Peter Crowley told me that when he saw that CBGB audition he thought "Everythjng they didn't know, they could learn, and everything they did know couldn't be taught". In all my years in this business that's probably my favorite quote about a band. He also told them he'd only give them a gig if they bought a tuner for their guitars. He said they came to his office all excited because they'd found one in a dumpster by Manny's. They showed him the tuner and he gave them the gig. One of my favorite bands of all time. Thanks so much for making this film!

As a kid that was into metal and punk, Cramps was my gateway band into rockabilly, surf, garage and the blues. I remember as a long haired teenager with my leather jacket covered in metal and punk pins first listening to the Cramps at a friend's house, my jaw fell open and my eyes rolled into the back of my head. This sounded like the stuff my parents and grandparents played on the record table when I was a kid but it was twisted. Been a Cramps fan ever since.

The Cramps were real Rock and Roll, I love them. Every show I saw was outrageous and fun. What a trip, seems like a lost world. Great video thanks

I love when a single band is so good and influential that learning about them can help you to contextualize the entire popular culture of their time

I met Lux & Ivy over at a party at Ray Zone's house in Los Angeles. They were the friendliest, most open people, the opposite of their stage personas. A few of us were smoking weed over to one side and Lux came over. "Ah, hippy pot!" he said. "Yeah, ya want some?" I said. "Sure!" Was his reply. Very nice people, indeed!

At a gig in Cardiff in the mid eighties Lux did his usual climbing on the speakers while singing Human Fly. Below he was shaking hands with people as i reached over to shake he kissed the back of my hand and immediately realised i wasnt one of they young ladies that were in front of me. He apologised and we both laughed as he saw I'd seen the funny side of it😂 59 still love the Cramps. Great video thanks for sharing it.

First saw them 85 on the A Date with Elvis tour at Liverpool aged 15. Saw them 6 times in total all in the UK. Still to this day one my favourite bands, got 3 Cramps tattoos, most of their vinyl, a stack load of Tshirts and a photo signed by Lux and Poison Ivy. The Cramps live on in the hearts of many who “got” them 🤘

Saw them a few times in St. Pete in the 90s. Their concerts were often more wild than the hard-core punk shows of the time but always big fun.

I met Lux before a show at the legendary Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa. He was at the back bar a couple hours before the show. I knew he was a stereo photography buff and I'm a photographer and so I just went up to him and struck up a conversation about his collection. He was so nice. We chatted for about 30 mins. Great job, Dennis.

As a kid in the eighties i can remember seeing posters with the cramps in slime green dripping horror movie writing, it scared me. But When I heard "bikini girls" i was hooked for life. If only everyone could have a love like Lux and Ivy.

what an enjoyable look back at one of the funnest, wackiest, and apparently one of the truest-to-who-they-were bands from a very special time in our evolution.....thank you.

Are you guys ready for the best intimate Cramps show ever?? So in 2002 i went to see the Cramps on 2nd street in Seattle. I was hanging out with the Makers a lot and was gonna catch 'em at the Cramps show. I was instantly mesmerized by Lux's vocals and Poison's cramped super reverberated Gretsch. I went right in front of her and drooled accordingly. Towards the end of the show I decided to get in front of Lux and help him scream his dirty lyrics. He kept putting the mic in front of me to help him sing the chorus in their songs. Apparently Lux was digging my enthusiasm as i screamed with him. At some point he grabbed me by my neck and pulled me on stage. He proceeded to knaw on my head like he was a zombie. When a zombie eats your brains you die, so i died. Im laying dead on stage as Lux props a proper heart extract out of my chest and proceeded to feed my heart to some sexy punk rock chicks up front. At this point Poison was going off with a real Linkish solo and came over to my lifeless corpse and started to pee on my face. So I did what any rockabilly dude would do if Poison Ivy peed on you face, I drank like I had never drank before. As i violently lapped my tongue I came to life but i was bitten by Lux as a zombie so now im a zombie so i zombied my way off stage back into the crowd. Thank you for the best show Ive ever been to, The Cramps!!!

A friend of mine had met them many moons ago and said that they just weren't nice, but very sweet and kind. They were a class act.

Original American Gothic. Gotta say that their Napa State Mental Hospital Gig is one of the craziest Shows I have ever seen. The thing that I love is that The Cramps were NOT patronising their Audience. 100% Rock & Roll.

I saw them in Toronto, Ontario in either the late 80’s or early 90’s. One of the best shows I have ever seen. I will be 52 years old in a few weeks. I am trying to teach my 24 year old son who these infamous musicians are. I do not ever want them to be forgotten. They were a symbol of an era.