Lux Interior of the Cramps, 1946-2009 (slightly NSFW)

Erick Lee Purkhiser, better known as Lux Interior of the legendary psychobilly/punk rock band the Cramps, passed away from a pre-existing heart condition on Feb. 4. Lux founded the band in 1973 with his wife, lead guitarist Poison Ivy, in Sacramento. Since then, the Cramps have gone on to play a major role in the early CBGB punk movement, helped innovate the genre of psychobilly and influenced everyone from Spacemen 3 and My Bloody Valentine to the Dwarves and Revered Horton Heat. Photographer Maggie St. Thomas (visit her website at www.35mmMaggie.com) has kindly shared her personal collection of photographs of Lux Interior in memoriam.