‘Savagely Cramped’ A memory of the Hammersmith Palais 22 June 1981
Cramped style, cramped brains, cramped room, I’m cramped. The Cramps - it’s the early eighties, this band is cartoon rock perfect. Silly names, silly costumes, silly songs, the sheer silliness and simplicity a pure joy; Psychobilly Fury and Billy Lee Riley. The Meteors, meteorites of post punk rock & roll, Whirlwind and Wild Angels.
The Hammersmith Palais, hot, sweaty, like a Zombie Dance. The Cramps are huge, the place is packed. But wait a minute, what have we here? A late fifties/early sixties novelty act that shook Lux Interior and blew Poison Ivy. David Lord Sutch and the Savages, Mark Eternity - with the body of the Shakers, blaring horns, and ‘screaming’ in the coffin.
Lights dim, the Funeral March and a torch lit procession makes its way across the stage - monks, topless nuns and a coffin - the body rises - resurrection and the Palais erupts. Good Golly Miss Molly, Long Tall Sally, Keep On Rockin’, ‘Til The Following Night. Cheers, emotions, sniffles and grunts - I’m A Hog For You, I Can’t Get Enough of Your Love.
Tony on the edge of the stage, Shaker Johnny Cymbal who put the bomp bass man. Arms flying as he strikes the chords, grabbing as much attention as the ‘Good Lord’ in his top hat and leopard skin coat. Then Tony jumps, maybe trips over a lead, a leg kicks out - I’m directly in front of him - his boot misses me by centimetres - a momentary insight into what he is doing, realising it’s me grinning inanely at him. Foot in mid air, missed by a hog’s breath being mauled for life by a Savage. I’m sure he shouted ‘Robin’ into the mike but the whole glorious noise was so loud I could be mistaken.
It all happened so quickly - Reaction, Immediate, Track - what happens next? Tony throws his bass guitar, it flies through the air to the side of the stage to be caught by Kevin tonight’s star roadie. The crowd all think its part of the act.
And then there’s Jack the Ripper, severed heads, entrails, Policemen and swords. The Yorkshire Ripper is all the news and a part of the crowd, too Cramped to Sutch or suss, doesn’t see the joke, that it’s Sutch’s big hit deliberately aimed below the belt.
Cramped style, cramped brains, cramped room, I’m cramped. The Cramps -
The Hammersmith Palais, hot, sweaty, like a Zombie Dance. The Cramps are huge, the place is packed. But wait a minute, what have we here? A late fifties/early sixties novelty act that shook Lux Interior and blew Poison Ivy. David Lord Sutch and the Savages, Mark Eternity -
Lights dim, the Funeral March and a torch lit procession makes its way across the stage -
Tony on the edge of the stage, Shaker Johnny Cymbal who put the bomp bass man. Arms flying as he strikes the chords, grabbing as much attention as the ‘Good Lord’ in his top hat and leopard skin coat. Then Tony jumps, maybe trips over a lead, a leg kicks out -
It all happened so quickly -
And then there’s Jack the Ripper, severed heads, entrails, Policemen and swords. The Yorkshire Ripper is all the news and a part of the crowd, too Cramped to Sutch or suss, doesn’t see the joke, that it’s Sutch’s big hit deliberately aimed below the belt.
