Define your genre in five words or less:
Iconic garage rock’n’roll and surf.
So, someone is walking past as you guys are playing, they then go get a beer and tell their friend about you… what do they say?
“You know The Cramps? This band is smashing it.”
How long have you been gigging and writing?
We have played Cramps songs for about six months.
Which band would you most like to have a battle/showdown with?
For me, Mesa Cosa. They deliver mad fun rock’n’roll. Or INXS, or The King Khan and BBQ Show.
What inspires or has influenced your music the most?
Well, there’s no way I can do justice to what inspired The Cramps, but they kept faithful to the sacred spirit of rock’n’roll – early raw, dramatic and inspired rock’n’roll. It’s well known they were avid record collectors, notably of Sun Records. Early on they covered a lot of songs in the tradition of pioneering rock’n’rollers, with legendary versions of Hasil Adkins, The Sonics and The Trashmen. Poison Ivy loved Link Wray, Ike Turner and The Ventures and you can see Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent in Lux Interior’s performances.
What do you think a band has to do these days to succeed?
Set the audience on fire to get a whole lotta shakin’ going on.
Why should everyone come and see your band?
If you know The Cramps, you’ll get a kick, and if you don’t, you’ll begin your education.
HYPNO SEX RAY PLAY THE CRAMPS at The Brunswick Hotel on Saturday December 12.
