RIP: Lux Interior of the Cramps

Update: Statement from the band's publicist down below, and now Pitchfork has chimed in on the Life of Lux.
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Word from the Daily Swarm is that the Cramps' Lux Interior died this morning. No other information is out there, even on the Cramps' site or Lux' wiki, so who knows if it's true or not. But he was 60 so it's entirely possible.

I wasn't the biggest Cramps fan in the world, but I appreciated their place in history and when I was about 13 or so in the early '90s, I remember buying a bootleg Cramps cassette off some street vendor punk in New York City's Union Square. It was a hollowed out live recording from some venue called Clutch Cargos, and it dominated my walkman for weeks after I got it. It represented punk in ways that the Op Ivys of the world could not (I was 13. Evs). Everytime I hear of the Cramps, I think of taking the LIRR into the city, standing outside Coney Island High on St. Marks and being enamored with the dirty ass people around me. And I think of that tape. RIP Lux, you were a legendary performer.

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From their publicist:
For Immediate Release:
February 4, 2009

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.

Vote for the pill and Great Scott

If you feel so inclined, please vote for the pill in the Boston Phoenix' Best of '09 readers poll in Best Dance Party category. If you wanna put one Michael V. in there for Best DJ, as well, then go right ahead. /endpandering.

DJ Paparazzi hits So Dope (02.05)

Another week, another LA DJ takes over a Boston party. This time, it's DJ Paparazzi, who hits the So Dope relaunch tomorrow night at Venue, according to today's Hotline column.

The 24-year-old DJ Paparazzi, who hit his handle from his background as a portrait phototog, spins at the Dance party in LA each Tuesday, and was a part of the Check Yo Ponytail crew and pretty much every other vital West Coast party, working with the likes of Le Castle Vania, Franki Chan, Acid Girls and Guns N' Bombs, all of whom I'm blown Vanyaloads over on this blog.

Pretty cool to have him in Boston, though as he told me by phone yesterday, he's never DJ'd in a sub-frigid climate. Hope he brings a parka.

BM LINX on E! News Live

Ryan Seacrest has nothing on my BM LINX introductions. Vanya out!

Von Iva tonight @ TTs

I get so many CDs sent to me at work in the newsroom, I hardly listen to any. But I got this Von Iva disc in the mail a few weeks ago, and after being drawn in by the killer album art (yeah, I'm a sucker for a synth-playing gal, kill me) I was totally feeling "Living For It." It's rare anything I get turns out being this awesome.

But this San Francisco electro rock trio know how to bring the sultry synth-heavy goods, and they're at T.T. The Bear's Place tonight with the Hell on Heels tour, featuring the always entertaining and whythefuckainttheyfamousyet Semi Precious Weapons and Nico Vega. This snow might keep me locked inside, but this shit is def worth checking out on a lonely Tuesday in February. "Living For It" gets the crowd going at the pill each week without fail, and the pics on the ol 'Space hint at a pretty sexy live show. Damn you, Old Man Winter!

Pela: NYC shows, new album coming

This snowy Tuesday brings some excellent news, as Brooklyn indie quintet Pela announced a NYC mini-residency and word that their sophomore album is almost ready for release. Sweet.

Straight from the lovely lads: We are extremely excited to announce a few intimate shows we’ll be playing in NYC. We’ve decided to set up a mini-residency at The Mercury Lounge in March. We’ll be playing new material with a few oldies and we couldn’t think of a better place to do it than in our hometown. The dates are March 3 and March 10. Tickets will go on sale Feb. 6 (for Amex cardholders there is a presale Feb. 4). Go to mercuryloungenyc.com or call the box office at 212.260.4700 for tickets.

Anyone who knows me knows of my love for Pela, whose first album Anytown Graffiti provided the soundtrack to my life a few years back. Quite simply one of the best rock bands out there today, I can’t wait to hear some new material.

Paste Magazine: Obama-com me

I might be late to this patriot party, but Paste Magazine is letting users Obama-com themselves, in the spirit and shape of those now-celebrated Shepard Fairey campaign posters. I', thisclose to creating one for Lola, but in the interest of full disclosure, here is mine in all its creepy glory. We are all Americans... I dig it.

RuPaul's 'Drag Race' revs up tonight!

I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing RuPaul last week, and the results of that -- minus discussion on masturbation, man-eltoe and kai-kai, of course -- appeared in today's Boston Herald as an advance for "Drag Race". The faux-roastbeef curtain rises tonight on LOGO at 10pm.

Seriously people, "Drag Race" is every reality comp rolled into one. It's as fucking fantabulous as its contestants; nine drag queens looking to step up their game and become America's top Lady. I'm already OBSESSED with Nina Flowers, who holds motherfucking Divine-levels of fiercness, and she's to this show what Stefan is to the Top Shef. The rest of the cast is pretty flawless as well, though Tammie Brown creeps the holy living fuck out of me.

I Love Money 2 at 9, then Drag Race at 10. Monday night rules.

Tool Academy's Final 5

So not long after the Steelers' Santonio Holmes caught that last-minute Super Bowl-winning TD and ended the Arizona Cardinals miracle run, Phoenix' own M.E.G.A. got the bizzouuut from the Tool Academy. What a tough turn of events for the Copper State. The remaining tools thought M.E.G.A. and his girl were two platonic friends straight hustlin' for the cash, which is pretty awesome on several levels. But M.E.G.A. is now ghosted just like the Cards, which leaves a pretty strong remaining five Tools left.

I've really come to appreciate these dudes, and think they make a strong, entertaining cast. With I Love Money 2 returning tonight (more on that later), Rock of Love Bus finally getting interesting and Tool Academy in its final stretch, VH1 is king of trash TV once again. The tale of the Tool Tape on the remaining 5 tools:

Turkey Hair Shawn - Clearly the alpha tool with the hottest girl (despite nipples that point in different directions), he's my pick to win the competition. But the 2003 haircut needs to go, and shit, he could use the scissors he has inked on his abs to cut it down. He's showing emotional growth (kinda), he's good for TV (def), and the love story is legit, even if he did originally show up with another bird. Needs to stop saying "bro" so much, but I like this dude. I mean, he designs underwear for a living. A+.

Tiny Tool Josh - He might be getting too considerate and emo for the Academy. Genuinely loves his momma, and he's the only Tool from New Jersey, as it turns out. If he were a Devils fan, we'd hang (as long as the hair is down and not blown out). Could be the next to go, though.

Matsuflex- Confused the shit out of me at first, and the tribal tats, Slim Jim hair and drunken blow-ups are an abortion, but there's more to this dude than he's letting on. I dunno, his game is so outrageous I think he could be a fraud. And we still need an explanation on this god damn name. I think I appreciate him more than I should, I dunno.

Meathead Rob - Laying in the weeds, along for the ride, this guy. Just waiting for a fight, just waiting to not put on a pink shirt, just waiting for his girl to move in with him. Unsure how much is brewing up there, but he's coming off pretty harmless lately. His "Good job, Matsuflex" line while chugging a beer in the premiere is still my favorite moment of the series.

Sporty Tommy - Hopefully the next to bounce, leaving the other legit four to duke it out. Reminds me a lot of typical Boston tools, and might be too good -- or just normal, basic, boring -- for this show.

Shout out to D-Listed, who recently asked: How many Tool Academy douchebags would you hit?

Great Scott record

Also, real quick: We set an all-time Great Scott record for attendance Friday night, with about 340 people at the pill, and 417 total between the pill and the weekly 7-9pm comedy show. Wowzers. Thanks to all who came out! xo