Lux Interior or better known as Erick Lee Purkhiser in real life was born on October 21, 1948. He grew up in his hometown Stow, Ohio who gets fascinated on antics of the early 60′s Cleveland horror host Goulardi. Goulardi earned a scorn from the local PTA due to his rebellious ac and jokes. Lux Interior or Erick Lee Purkhiser later joked that Goulardi was so popular that the crime rate went down because everyone is busy watching his shows.
Erick also loves rock music, Rockabilly in particular and some EC horror comic books. He met his wife in 1972, who was also a fan of Alice Cooper, LS, record collecting and B-movies. Her name is Kristy Wallace, better known as Poison Ivy. Wow, this is where they got the name of one hot villain in Batman.
According to local stories, Lux Interior picked her up while Poison Ivy was hitch-hiking. He then discovered that they have lots in common. The rest is history. The two moved back to Ohio in 1973 and got to New York in 1975. Erick and Kristy were influenced by the punk music culture of New York with bands and singers like “The New York Dolls” and “The Ramones”. The two decided they would start their own punk rock band. they gave it a name “The Cramps”. With their enthusiasm, they added Rockabilly and B-movie flavor to portray their unique Image. In addition, they also created a unique stage persona known as “the psychosexual werewolf” or “Elvis hybrid from hell”. With this, the created a whole new genre of music which later was known to be “Psychobilly”.
Here is Surfin Dead by The Cramps
Lux Interior’s band “The Cramps” showed the world their great love to their weird odd and off beat music when they gave a free concert to the patients of Nappa Valley State Mental Institution in 1978. In 1979, The Cramps released their first official EP, “Gravest Hits” which was then followed by the release of their first LP, “Songs the Lord Taught Us” that same year. The Cramps performed an original song for Dan O’Bannon’s classic horror-comedy “The Return of the Living Dead” playing the song “Surfin’ Dead” In 1985.
Although Lux Interior and Poison Ivy were the only two constant members of “The Cramps”, the band still continues to tour to this day, rocking an rolling with their fans.
Just a Trivia, Erick Purkhiser took his stage name Lux Interior from a car advertisement. Now that’s pretty interesting, don’t you think? 
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m 16 & I love music from as far back as the 30s, that chick was a TOTAL idiot, luckily not all us 16 year olds are like that. I wish Lux could eat her heart too v.v
they didnt start in the 50s idiot, did you even read this. i wish lux was still alive to eat your heart. but i guess he couldnt since your sixteen and they were way back in the 70-80s.
Am not a fan of The Cramps or Lux Interior or Poison Ivy. Maybe because I’m only 16 and the band started out way back in the 1950′s. But just the same, I like the surfin dead music video as the OST of The return of the living dead. Cool mother yoh….