Anyone else into this rather niche musical genre from back in the day? On a few threads there have been the odd references to it but have any of you ever had the big quiff and Jumped to the Zulu Beat? If this means absolutely nothing to you check out; The Meteors King Kurt The Stingrays Batmobile Guana Batz Collections like Blood on the Cats, Stomping at the Klubfoot The origins all point to The Cramps who mixed East Cost surfing vibe with New York punk to create a unique sound much copied by later bands. The popularity of the Rockabilly revival in the late 70's must also have helped (Straycats in particular). Psychobilly was a lot harder and faster, easy to play and easy to dance to (well, not dance exactly, more like open warfare) and as a popular movement lasted about 5 years in the mid to late 80's although some bands started out a bit earlier and others still gig regularly. You wouldn't last long at a gig if you were of the nervous disposition as the sort of moshing that went on was ultra-violent and black eyes and missing teeth was a hazard you had to accept. No wonder the Meteors fans were known as The Wrecking Crew. Many of the bands came from provinsial towns and the suburbs but the mecca was The Klubfoot (upstairs at The Clarendon in Hammersmith, sadly now part of the bus station!). Not a lot of chart success although King Kurt did manage to make it onto Top of the Pops with Destination Zululand, something I can't see being allowed in these times of political correctness. If you have never experienced Psychobilly then You Tube is full of it, if you have then all I can say is "Oooh Wallah Wallah Wallah!!!"
Used to go to an Indie club donkeys ago. Clientel were Punks, skins but mostly Psychos. I was more of a mod TBH but it was always a great night. On the dance floor they used to call it slamming but basically it was punching and kicking the **** out of each other. All these years later I still have a small scar near my left ear from one of those nights Was great fun to be had by all.
Had "Songs The Lord Taught Us" by The Cramps. Pretty good party album when you had a room full of speed freaks ripped on sulphate.
Got quite a few Cramps and Meteors records plus Blood on the Cats. Saw The Cramps at Reading and was down the front but had to move back when a circle of psychobillies formed round me and were literally laying into me. Never was one but had a few mates who were. Some were in a band, The Pretty Jollies, who used to play in London quite often, you may have seen them. Saw them in some small venue in North London, don't know if it was a regular psychobilly venue, the punters were scary looking mental bastards. I think The Meteors evolved independently of The Cramps, they started in 1979 was it?
Guana batz were the best of the bunch imo, then maybe Coffin Nails. Psychobilly from the 80s, much better than the supposed copied soft crap out today.
