The Cramps Lost Album 'Gravest Gravy' Set For Release In August
Thursday, 28 May 2026
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: David Godlis
A lost collection of songs by The Cramps is to be released this summer.
'Gravest Gravy' will arrive through Vengeance on August 21 and features tracks recorded in 1977 with producer Alex Chilton of Big Star. The sessions led to early singles like Surfin' Bird and Human Fly, along with other released material, as well as several songs that were shelved at the time.
Frontman Lux Interior and guitarist Poison Ivy went back to the recordings in the late '80s, hoping to release them, but the plans were dropped for "reasons lost to time," according to a press release.
The music has now been restored from the original tapes by Brian Kehew and will finally be released, with people close to the band, including former Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins and former Minor Threat vocalist Ian MacKaye helping to mix and master the tracks, with Poison Ivy approving the final version. In a statement, Rollins said:
"This new chapter for the band is a combined effort of people whose lives were changed by the music of the Cramps. As I’ve said many times, I first saw the Cramps on April 20, 1979 in a small bar in Washington, DC, and I’ve never recovered. Ian was standing next to me. We still talk about that show. The opportunity to bring this music to fellow Cramps fans is beyond a thrill. It is an absolute honor that we feel so fortunate to be a part of."
Plans to reissue the band's past records are also underway after Poison Ivy established The Cramps, Inc., effectively relaunching the band's label Vengeance Records. Check out the previously unreleased opening track from 'Gravest Gravy', TV Set, which captures the band's early raw, gritty garage punk sound.
'Gravest Gravy' tracklist:
1. T.V. Set
2. Weekend On Mars
3. Twist & Shout
4. Jungle Hop
5. Can’t Hardly Stand It
6. Hungry
7. The Natives Are Restless
8. Domino
9. Can’t Find My Mind
10. Rockin’ Bones
11. Problem Child
12. Rocket In My Pocket
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
