Lux Interior, lead singer of The Cramps, passed away this morning due to an existing heart condition at Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, California at 4:30 AM PST today. 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.
The Cramps emerged from the original New York punk scene of CBGB and Max’s Kansas City, with a singular sound and iconography. Their distinct take on rockabilly and surf along with their midnight movie imagery reminded us all just how exciting, dangerous, vital and sexy rock and roll should be and has spawned entire subcultures. Lux was a fearless frontman who transformed every stage he stepped on into a place of passion, abandon, and true freedom. He is a rare icon who will be missed dearly.
The family requests that you respect their privacy during this difficult time.
As promised, here are my final 25 cuts by the unforgettable Elton and Betty White. I think that due to the shortness of their songs, one needs to hear rather a lot of them to gain a better feel for what they did. I suppose I should describe their music to those who haven't heard it, I keep assuming that WFMU reader/listeners know about them; the best and most I could say is that they sing straight from the heart about some earthy, patently human things, and what they may lack in skill as poets and players disappears under the weight of their charm. I didn't even expect to be doing Elton and Betty as my first couple of regular posts here on BOTB, but fate seemed to push them into this spot, in several ways. By the way- I'm tickled to be here.
The second tidal wave of E & B hits after the break.
So many songs, so many happy memories of hearing and singing them with friends. Delightfully accessible, and yet not music for everyone. I enjoy the little moments in the performance where they aren't singing: Betty cracking up slightly when delivering the name of her song Jack-Off Time, Elton talking about his sombrero or bragging on the power of their music. I won't argue with Elton- I was an immediate fan like so many others. I will admit to being puzzled recently when trying to figure out what the heck key he was playing in on a particular song. I think it must be in the patented 'White' tuning.
On the technical side of this week's tracks, I need only point out that Betty's song I'd Rather Not HaveOral Sex was the unlucky tune on the original cassette that was bridging the first and second sides of the tape. In other words it has a split second missing in the middle of the song. Ugh! And such a fantastic piece, too. Let's hope we see a real release of that one someday!
By the way, I think that Betty's You're So Sexy To Me is one of the sweetest and most romantic mini-ballads I've ever heard. It's still touching to me in it's intensity after all of these years of hearing it.
Oh, and again I'll add the disclaimer that these MP3s are probably NOT work-friendly, nor good for babysitting.
Neville Lawrence ("Star") has had a presence on late-night television commercial in the Omaha, Nebraska area for a while, but he originally started performing right around here in New York City back in the late 1980's--when he says he played at places like The Arc and the Samy Hotel (where he shared a stage with Snoop Dogg in 1988). He had emigrated from Trinidad in the early 80's, and his unlikely path to from there to Omaha, Nebraska started on a New York City subway when he approached Ann, a tourist originally from South Dakota. Apparently, he'd caught her eye because he was wearing one of his many 'costumes' (all of which he makes himself--see videos). Neville asked her out right there, and Ann, apparently willing to go on a date with a costumed man in a early 1980's New York City subway station, agreed to meet him. Lo and behold, more than twenty years later they live in Omaha, and have a daughter together. One has to assume the costume was fantastic.
Anyway, what do Superstar and Star sound like? Well, the Nebraska-area late night television commercial hawking Superstar's CDs describes the music as "a blend of pop and soul with Caribbean flavor and a message: Life is Worth Living. Superstar's music affirms his belief in discipline tolerance respect and peace. Be mesmerized by the hypnotic sounds of Superstar -- positive music for life."
I'd say 'hypnotic' is about right--although not very 'poppy' at all to these ears. Neville digs repetition; all his songs have him croon-moaning two or three lines of lyrics over an pretty much unchanging looped beat and pretty much unchanging looped synths effects, over and over and over for five to ten minutes (a bit like early rap songs, actually). A friend of mine recently told me he thought Superstar was primarily a video phenomena (and yeah, the videos are, ummm... rather striking), but I just spent the last ten minutes of my life listening to 'I am the Lover Man', a song off their "Superstar & Star In Sexy Girl" cd--and I don't regret it a bit. Neither should you. Incidentally, if you buy CD's from Neville, you should know that even though he has recorded more than 20 "Superstar & Star" albums, they are ALL self titled!
More Star and Superstar music videos below the fold...
