Editing Psychobilly (section)

==History==
The evolution of psychobilly as a genre is often described as having occurred in waves. The first wave occurred in New York City in the 1970s and reached [[United Kingdom|Britain]] in the early 1980s, the second wave took place at the end of that decade and spread through the rest of Europe, and the third crested in the late 1990s with the genre finding international popularity.<ref name="Downey, 77">Downey, p.77.</ref>

===Precursors===
The wildly theatrical [[shock rock]] aesthetic of [[Screamin' Jay Hawkins]] in the 1950s, and the [[outsider music]] of the [[Legendary Stardust Cowboy]] in the late 1960s have been cited as a precursor to what would become psychobilly.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iICsBwAAQBAJ&q=psychobilly+legendary+stardust+cowboy&pg=PT1765|title=American Countercultures: An Encyclopedia of Nonconformists, Alternative Lifestyles, and Radical Ideas in U.S. History: An Encyclopedia of Nonconformists, Alternative Lifestyles, and Radical Ideas in U.S. History|first=Gina|last=Misiroglu|date=26 March 2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317477280|access-date=5 September 2020|via=Google Books}}</ref> The members of the Meteors and the Cramps both cited the song "Love Me" (1960) by the Phantom as the first song in the genre.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hann |first1=Michael |title=Big quiffs, zombies and dead crows: the wild world of psychobilly |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jul/30/big-quiffs-zombies-and-dead-crows-the-wild-world-of-psychobilly |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=30 July 2021 |access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref>

===Origins in the United States===
[[File:The-Cramps.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[The Cramps]] are progenitors of psychobilly.]]
{{Quote box |quote=The Cramps weren't thinking of this weird subgenre when we coined the term "psychobilly" in 1976 to describe what we were doing. To us all the '50s rockabillies were psycho to begin with; it just came with the turf as a given, like a crazed, sped-up hillbilly boogie version of country.

We hadn't meant playing everything superloud at superheavy hardcore punk tempos with a whole style and look, which is what "psychobilly" came to mean later in the '80s. We also used the term "rockabilly voodoo" on our early flyers. |source=—[[Poison Ivy (musician)|Poison Ivy Rorschach]]<ref name="Spitz 174">{{cite book |last1=Spitz |first1=Marc |author-link1=Marc Spitz |last2=Mullen |first2=Brendan |author-link2=Brendan Mullen |title=We Got the Neutron Bomb: The Untold Story of L.A. Punk |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BXyCHYk3C90C&q=we+got+the+neutron+bom |access-date=May 8, 2010 |edition=1st |year=2001 |publisher=[[Three Rivers Press]] |location=[[New York City]] |isbn=0-609-80774-9 |pages=34–35}}</ref>|align=right |salign=right |width=30%}}
In the mid- to late 1970s, as [[punk rock]] became popular, several [[rockabilly]] and [[garage rock]] bands appeared who would influence the development of psychobilly.<ref name="Downey, 77"/> The term "psychobilly" was first used in the lyrics to the [[country music|country]] song "[[One Piece at a Time]]", written by [[Wayne Kemp]] for [[Johnny Cash]], which was a Top 10 hit in the United States in 1976. The lyrics describe the construction of a "psychobilly [[Cadillac (automobile)|Cadillac]] using stolen auto parts."<ref name="Downey, 78">Downey, p.78.</ref>

The Cramps, who formed in [[Sacramento, California]], in 1972 and relocated to [[New York City|New York]] in 1975 where they became part of the city's thriving punk movement, appropriated the term from the Cash song and described their music as "psychobilly" and "rockabilly voodoo" on [[flyer (pamphlet)|flyers]] advertising their concerts.<ref name="Downey, 78"/> The Cramps have since rejected the idea of being a part of a psychobilly subculture, noting that "We weren't even describing the music when we put 'psychobilly' on our old fliers; we were just using [[carny]] terms to drum up business. It wasn't meant as a style of music."<ref name="Downey, 78"/> Nevertheless, The Cramps, along with artists such as [[Screamin' Jay Hawkins]], are important precursors to psychobilly.<ref name="Downey, 77"/><ref name="Downey, 78"/> The Cramps' music was heavily informed by the sound and attitude of 1950s American rockabilly, including [[Hasil Adkins]], whose song "She Said" they covered on 1984's compilation album ''[[Bad Music for Bad People]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Raggett |first=Ned |title=Bad Music for Bad People - The Cramps |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/bad-music-for-bad-people-mw0000651702 |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=January 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Cramps {{!}} Similar Artists, Influenced By, Followers |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-cramps-mn0000137580/related |website=AllMusic |access-date=January 27, 2014}}</ref> along with other songs from the [[Sun Records]] catalog. Their 1979 album ''[[Songs the Lord Taught Us]]'' is influential to the formation of the psychobilly genre.<ref name="Downey, 80">Downey, p.80.</ref>
{{clear}}

===First wave in Britain===
[[File:The Meteors live in Pordenone, Italy, 2006.jpg|thumb|right|[[The Meteors]] are the first definitive psychobilly band.]] Although the Cramps have been recognized as an "early" or "pioneering" psychobilly band,<ref name ="wapost" /> About.com calls [[The Meteors]] "the first true psychobilly band", noting their blend of the "themes of horror, punk and rockabilly". They were the first band to use the term 'Psychobilly' as a description of their music.<ref name="AboutCom"/> Formed in [[South London]] in 1980,<ref name="marcus">{{Cite magazine |last=Marcus |first=Andrew |date=March 2009 |title=No, Seriously, Ask That Guy: The Meteors |magazine=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |location=[[Cleveland, Ohio]] |issue=248 |page=118}}</ref> their albums ''In Heaven'' (1981) and ''Wreckin' Crew'' (1983) are recognized as landmarks of the early years of the genre.<ref name="Downey, 77"/><ref name="Downey, 80"/> "Starting in the neo-rockabilly scene, the Meteors were quickly shunned for being too different. Excuses for exclusion from rockabilly concerts varied from the band having too extreme of a sound to their drummer having green hair."<ref name="furious.com">{{cite web |last=Katz |first=Nate |title=The Dawn of Psychobilly |url=http://www.furious.com/perfect/psychobilly.html |website=Perfect Sound Forever |access-date=October 20, 2013 |date=February 2012}}</ref> The Meteors blended elements of punk rock, rockabilly, and [[horror film]] themes in their music. Another commentator argues that [[Misfits (band)|The Misfits]]' "American Nightmare" may have been the first psychobilly song.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://keeptahoeemo.tripod.com/tiffanihenning/id14.html |title=History of Psychobilly |website=Keep Tahoe Emo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104223729/http://keeptahoeemo.tripod.com/tiffanihenning/id14.html |archive-date=January 4, 2016 |access-date=September 7, 2013}}</ref><!-- intriguing to give The Misfits that credit...same obsession with B movie horror and gore :) -->

The Meteors also articulated psychobilly's [[politics|apolitical]] stance, a reaction to the right- and left-wing political attitudes which divided other British youth cultures.<ref name="Downey, 77"/> Fans of The Meteors, known as "the Wrecking crew", are often attributed with inventing the style of [[moshing|slam dancing]] known as "wrecking", which became synonymous with the psychobilly movement.<ref name="Downey, 78"/> The short-lived Sharks, formed in [[Bristol]] in 1980, followed closely behind The Meteors with their influential album ''Phantom Rockers''.<ref name="Downey, 77"/><ref name="Downey, 81">Downey, p.81. "Another London band The Ricochets were the first band after The Meteors to call their music psychobilly. Their debut album ''Made In The Shade'' from 1982 is another influential psychobilly album."</ref> Demented Are Go are a Welsh psychobilly band that was formed around 1982 in Cardiff. They were one of the earliest in the initial wave of bands to mix punk rock with rockabilly, and as a result, are highly influential to the psychobilly scene. Another significant British band were the [[Guana Batz]], formed in [[Feltham]], [[Middlesex]] in 1983.<ref name="Downey, 81"/> Their first album, 1985's ''Held Down to Vinyl at Last'', has been described by [[Tiger Army]] frontman [[Nick 13]] as "the most important release since the Meteors' first two albums."<ref name="Downey, 77"/>

The [[Klub Foot]] [[nightclub]], opened in 1982 at the Clarendon Hotel in [[Hammersmith]], served as a center for Britain's emerging psychobilly movement and hosted many bands associated with the style. Johnny Bowler of the Guana Batz describes the club as "the focal point for the whole psychobilly scene. You'd get people from all over at those gigs. It built the scene." Representatives from record labels such as [[Nervous Records|Nervous]] used the Klub Foot as a recruiting ground to sign up new bands.<ref name="Downey, 77"/> A live [[compilation album]] entitled ''Stomping at the Klub Foot'' was released in 1984, documenting the club's scene and the bands who played there.<ref name="Downey, 77"/><ref name="Downey, 80"/> At the same time psychobilly bands were forming elsewhere in Europe, such as [[Batmobile (band)|Batmobile]] who emerged in the [[Netherlands]] in 1983, released their debut album in 1985, and soon began headlining at psychobilly festivals and at the Klub Foot.<ref name="batmobile myspace">{{cite web |title=Batmobile |website=[[Myspace]] |url=http://www.myspace.com/batmobillly |access-date=July 23, 2008}}</ref>

===Second wave in Europe===
The second wave of psychobilly is noted as having begun with the 1986 release of British band [[Demented Are Go]]'s debut album ''[[In Sickness & In Health]]''.<ref name="Downey, 78"/> The genre soon spread throughout [[Europe]], inspiring a number of new acts such as [[Mad Sin]] (formed in Germany in 1987) and the [[Nekromantix]] (formed in [[Denmark]] in 1989), who released the album ''[[Curse of the Coffin]]'' in 1991.<ref name="Downey, 80"/> [[The Quakes]] formed in [[Buffalo, New York]] in 1986, but had such difficulty building a following in their hometown that they moved to London the following year, where they released the album ''Voice of America'' in 1990.<ref name="Downey, 77"/><ref name="Downey, 78"/><ref name="Downey, 80"/><ref name="Downey, 81"/> Another significant release of this era was the compilation album ''Rockabilly Psychosis and the Garage Disease'', which acknowledged the genre's roots in rockabilly and garage rock.<ref name="Downey, 80"/>
[[File:Dementedarego 1.jpg|thumb|left|Demented Are Go's singer's stage blood make-up is an example of the horror-film schtick some psychobilly bands adopted.]][[File:Mad Sin - Ilosaarirock 2008.jpg|thumb|right|The influential German band [[Mad Sin]] in 2008. From a psychobilly fashion perspective, note the bassist's red-dyed pompadour and the guitarist on the right's crop cut sides.]]
The second-wave bands broadened the music's scope, with the introduction of new and diverse musical influences into the sound.<ref name="Downey, 78"/> Record labels such as Nervous and Crazy Love helped the genre to expand, although it still remained largely unnoticed in the United States, where the albums were poorly distributed and most psychobilly bands preferred to play weekenders than to tour.<ref name="Downey, 78"/> Nick 13 states that while other British youth trends such as [[scooter (motorcycle)|scooter]] riding, the [[skinhead]] subculture, and [[2 Tone (music genre)|2 Tone]] [[ska]] crossed over to the United States during the 1980s, psychobilly did not.<ref name="Downey, 78"/>

However, one American act that emulated the style was [[The Reverend Horton Heat]], formed in [[Dallas, Texas]] in 1985. Their 1990 single "[[Psychobilly Freakout]]" helped introduce American audiences to the genre.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} The band was heavily inspired by [[The Cramps]], and original Cramps members [[Lux Interior]] and [[Poison Ivy (musician)|Poison Ivy]] have both identified The Reverend Horton Heat as the latter-day rockabilly/psychobilly band most closely resembling the style and tone of The Cramps.<ref name="Downey, 79">Downey, p.79.</ref> Horton Heat noted that the lack of audience awareness of the band was in some ways a benefit: "Somehow, as a band, we continue[d] to fly just below the radar of the whole music business. Which means we g[o]t to concentrate on being [touring] musicians, not recording artists."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2002/oct/17/20021017-092907-3355r/ |title=Drugs, Drinking, Women |newspaper=The Washington Times |date=October 17, 2002 |access-date=February 8, 2018}}</ref>

===Third wave internationally===
[[File:July Stuff 032.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tiger Army]], shown here performing on the 2007 [[Warped Tour]], are one of the most significant American psychobilly acts.]] The third wave of psychobilly began in the mid-1990s, with many acts incorporating influences from genres such as: [[hardcore punk]], [[indie rock]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[New wave music|new wave]], [[goth rock]], [[surf rock]], [[country music|country]], and [[ska]].<ref name="Downey, 78"/> Psychobilly became popular in the United States, particularly in [[southern California]], where [[punk rock]] had thrived and remained popular since the 1970s. The area's large Latino community, which revered early [[rock and roll]] icons, also played a part, as did the popularity of bands like the horror-influenced [[Misfits (band)|Misfits]] and country/rockabilly-inspired [[Social Distortion]], as well as a celebration of [[hot rod]] and [[motorcycle]] culture.<ref name="Downey, 78"/> In the mid to late 1990s European bands [[Demented Are Go]], [[Godless Wicked Creeps]] and [[The Hangmen (British band)|The Hangmen]] each played their own US live tours, motivating the fledgling US scene.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehangmen.uk/about|title=The Hangmen - About|website=The Hangmen|access-date=2018-10-15}}</ref> In contrast, there were US bands like [[The Kings of Nuthin']] from Boston, who toured Europe extensively for several years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kings Of Nuthin'—Tour 2003 - 2007 |url=https://www.livegigs.de/kings-of-nuthin |website=Livegigs.de |date=2025 |access-date=April 7, 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Reverend Horton Heat.JPG|thumb|[[The Reverend Horton Heat|Reverend Horton Heat]] playing in 2010|alt=]]
[[Tiger Army]], formed in [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]] in 1996, became the dominant American psychobilly act following the release of their 1999 self-titled debut.<ref name="Downey, 80"/> Their touring in support of the album helped to establish a foothold for psychobilly across the United States.<ref name="Downey, 77"/> [[Los Angeles]]-based [[Hellcat Records]], run by [[Rancid (band)|Rancid]]'s [[Tim Armstrong]], became home to many psychobilly acts, including [[Tiger Army]], [[Devil's Brigade (band)|Devil's Brigade]] and the Danish groups [[Nekromantix]] and [[HorrorPops]], both of whom relocated to southern California in the early 2000s.<ref name="Downey, 78"/>

[[Guana Batz]] members Pip Hancox and Johnny Bowler relocated there as well, moving to [[San Diego, California|San Diego]] where they sometimes perform with [[Slim Jim Phantom]] of the [[Stray Cats]] under the name Guana Cats.<ref name="Downey, 81"/> Another notable California psychobilly band formed in the 1990s was [[The Chop Tops]]. They have toured with bands like German psychobillies [[Mad Sin]] and the [[Nekromantix]], and have opened for the [[Dead Kennedys]], [[Suicidal Tendencies]], [[Dick Dale]], [[John Lee Hooker]], and [[Chuck Berry]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thechoptops.com/band.html |title=Performers They've Played With |website=The Chop Tops |access-date=April 23, 2012}}</ref>

The genre remained vital in Europe, where new acts continued to appear. In 1992, the Kryptonix emerged in France while the [[Godless Wicked Creeps]] formed in Denmark the following year,<ref name="Downey, 78"/><ref name="Downey, 82">Downey, p.82.</ref> The Sharks re-formed in Britain, releasing the album ''Recreational Killer'',<ref name="Downey, 81"/> The Snakes formed in Italy in 2004. Psychobilly also expended to new continents Battle of Ninjamanz formed in [[Japan]] in 1994 and Os Catalepticos formed in [[Brazil]] in 1996.<ref name="Downey, 82"/>

In the UK however most bands had split up, [[The Hangmen (British band)|The Hangmen]] – who had formed after the first and second waves – became reliant on live events that did not specifically cater to the much depreciated Psychobilly audiences, resulting in the genre being introduced to a wider audience and the band acquiring a more diverse following that included punks and bikers.<ref name=":0" />

====Canada====
Psychobilly also spread to Canada.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://punkabilly.ca/punkabilly-bands-to-check-out/ |title=Punkabilly Bands to Check Out |date=April 10, 2016 |first=Lauren |last=Spike |access-date=April 15, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029133214/http://punkabilly.ca/punkabilly-bands-to-check-out/ |archive-date=October 29, 2016 }}</ref> Stylistically, Déjà Voodoo (who sometimes described themselves as "sludgeabilly") and Condition, both from Montreal, are an early forerunners of the genre. As early as 1983, both bands issued recordings that displayed the rockabilly and garage punk influences of psychobilly, as well as a lyrical tendency towards horror and dark themes, often presented with humour.

Although it was not acknowledged as such at the time, Montreal's Mongols likely came closest to true psychobilly. From the somber Cramps-ish original title track to the covers of deranged rockabilly (Hasil Adkins), fifties rhythm 'n' blues (via psychobilly forefathers The Sonics), sixties garage rock by Quebec teenage sensations Les Lutins, and obscure, off-kilter instrumentals (one by The Nautiloids), their mini-LP ''Sleepwalk'' (1986) runs the gamut of all the musical bases of the genre. In addition, a few years later, The Mongols had their only other recording, "Bébé Cadavre" (Cadaver Baby), included on the ''Lachés Lousses'' compilation (1990).

Edmonton's Dusty Chaps might also be seen as an early exponent of the style with the inclusion of their sinister "Psychopath of Love" on Nervous Records' compilation ''Boppin' In Canada'' (1991). Following in those tracks, in the mid-nineties, were Vancouver's Deadcats. Their guitarist, Mike Dennis, had previously played in hardcore punk bands The Bill Of Rights and Forbidden Beat. Besides his own band, Dennis also issued early recordings by Montreal psychobillies The Alley Dukes, and Bloodshot Bill – who is also sometimes associated with the genre – on his Flying Saucer Records label.

The Gutter Demons were a band formed in 2002 in [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], who became one of the most recognizable Canadian psychobilly bands,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thegutterdemons.com/index.php |title=The Gutter Demons |website=thegutterdemons.com |access-date=October 31, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924145104/http://www.thegutterdemons.com/index.php |archive-date=September 24, 2013 }}</ref> their live debut came supporting [[The Hangmen (British band)|The Hangmen]] from the UK on their Canadian Tour of that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/thehangmen/photos/a.128863060974/10155882758500975/?type=3&theater |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/91250105974/10155882758500975 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=The Hangmen|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-15}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The Brains<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/TheBrainsMTL |title=TheBrains |website=Facebook |access-date=July 1, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731051843/https://www.facebook.com/TheBrainsMTL |archive-date=July 31, 2016 }}</ref> is a band from Montreal.

[[The Creepshow]] is a band from [[Burlington, Ontario]], [[Canada]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thetorontotimes.com/content/view/504/66/ |first=Adam |last=Grant |title=The Creepshow |website=The Toronto Times |date=November 13, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024233724/http://thetorontotimes.com/content/view/504/66/ |archive-date=October 24, 2007}}</ref> which formed in 2005; they write the majority of their songs about [[horror film]]s. [[The Switchblade Valentines]] are a Canadian psychobilly band from [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://themetropolitan.ca/back_issues/mp_5-2.pdf |title=Die Poor/Switchblade Valentines/Koffin Kats June 25th 2007 at Logan's Pub |magazine=The Metropolitan |location=[[Victoria BC]] |volume=5 |issue=2 |date=July 2007 |access-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706205457/http://themetropolitan.ca/back_issues/mp_5-2.pdf |archive-date=July 6, 2011}}</ref> [[Big John Bates]] is known as "one of [[Vancouver]]'s most notorious musicians" (''Globe & Mail'' - Toronto). The band re-branded in 2011 as "Americana Noir" (a rustic offshoot of the [[dark cabaret]] genre)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wild4washingtonwine.com/2013/03/day-two-big-john-bates-and-brandy-bones.html |first=William |last=Pollard |title=Day Two: Big John Bates and Brandy Bones Bates Interview |website=Wild 4 Washington Wine |date=March 12, 2013 |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318220811/http://www.wild4washingtonwine.com/2013/03/day-two-big-john-bates-and-brandy-bones.html |archive-date=March 18, 2016}}</ref> when the [[Gretsch]]-endorsed<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gretschguitars.com/artists/artist.php?id=39 |title=Gretsch® Artists: Big John Bates |website=Gretsch Guitars.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020215907/http://www.gretschguitars.com/artists/artist.php?id=39 |archive-date=October 20, 2013}}</ref> Bates was joined by [[Montana]]'s Brandy Bones on [[Hofner]] upright bass and cello.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hofner-strings-bows.com/news/news/view/label/Brandy%20Bones/ |title=News: Brandy Bones |website=Hofner Guitars and Strings |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509064335/http://www.hofner-strings-bows.com/news/news/view/label/Brandy%20Bones/ |archive-date=May 9, 2016}}</ref> Lauren Spike<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.LaurenSpike.com |title=Lauren Spike |website=LaurenSpike.com |access-date=August 31, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008200444/https://www.laurenspike.com/ |archive-date=October 8, 2016 }}</ref> is a band from [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]], who have played many large shows such as Amnesia Rockfest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://punkabilly.ca/amnesia-rockfest-rocker-contest-2016/ |title=Amnesia Rockfest |website=punkabilly.ca |access-date=August 31, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029014406/http://punkabilly.ca/amnesia-rockfest-rocker-contest-2016/ |archive-date=October 29, 2016 }}</ref>

[[File:The Creepshow - Psychobilly band - Live at Star & Garter, Manchester, United Kingdom - August 7th 2012.png|thumb|Canadian psychobilly band [[The Creepshow]] playing in Manchester in 2012|alt=]]