Lux, you changed my life. You inspired me to dive in face-first armed with nothing more than what little courage I already had and a beat-up guitar. I never pranced around in heels -- in fact, I don't think I can prance around at all -- but "Smell Of Female" changed my life. It was the first time I got it. It was the first batch of cool I could play. That's because on this record, and in the times I saw The Cramps live, I learned that guts trump technique.

Lurking somewhere between The King and The Prince Of Darkness, your voice was a primo, primal, psycho-sexual, soul-searing, werewolf howl from the jungle with the band's rhythm set in salacious time to rutting hips. The twang, the lo-fidelity, the B-movie aesthetic, the throbbing sexuality was, is, and always will be perfecto. I mean, goddamn, what else is there?

Throughout The Cramps' career, musical trends became increasingly insipid and square. They came and went, but I never needed to look any farther than The Cramps to be reminded what rock 'n' roll really means. You were the coolest, daddy-o, and I will truly miss you.

Vaya con reverb,

Frank

Lux Interior, singer for seminal punk band The Cramps, died Wednesday, February 4, at age 62.