With their curious blend of punk-orientated rockabilly, The Cramps occupied a
bizarre musical genre entirely of their own creation. They arrived on the music
scene on the crest of New York's burgeoning CBGB punk scene, the famous New York
venue which helped launch the careers of artists like the Ramones, Blondie and
Patti Smith.
After being signed to Miles Copeland's IRS record label, the band were given a
support slot on The Police's Outlandos d'Amour tour, with Copeland's brother
Stewart being a member of The Police. The tour was pivotal for the band and
provided them with...