Poison Ivy (musician)

Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy performing in 2005
Poison Ivy performing in 2005
Background information
Birth nameKristy Marlana Wallace
Also known asPoison Ivy, Poison Ivy Rorschach
Born (1953-02-20) February 20, 1953 (age 71)
San Bernardino, California, U.S.
Genres
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass, theremin, vocals
Years active1976–2009
Websitethecramps.com[dead link‍]

Kristy Marlana Wallace (born February 20, 1953), known as Poison Ivy or Poison Ivy Rorschach, is an American guitarist, songwriter, arranger, producer, and occasional vocalist who co-founded the rock band The Cramps.[1]

Early life

Ivy was born as Kristy Wallace in San Bernardino, California, and raised near Sacramento. In 1972, while attending Sacramento State College, Wallace met future Cramps singer Lux Interior.[2]

Career

In 1974, they moved first to Interior's hometown of Akron, Ohio, and then to New York City.[3] In 1976, as part of the emerging punk rock scene, they began performing as the Cramps.[4] They quickly gained a reputation for their unusual, rockabilly-inspired music and wild live performances. The Cramps, with Ivy, Lux, and various other guitarists, drummers, and bassists, continued to release records and perform live until the fall of 2006, enjoying some commercial success (mainly in Europe) and acquiring a strong cult following worldwide.[5]

Throughout The Cramps' career Ivy co-wrote all of the group's original songs with Lux Interior, and provided the arrangements for songs they covered. She produced or co-produced several of their albums and singles, sang on the songs "Kizmiaz" and "Get Off the Road," and played theremin on later records.

Songs written by Ivy and Interior and performed by other artists include "Human Fly" (which is based on "Do the Fly" performed and written by Ray Gentry/Rovin' Gamblers [1961], modified by The Cramps [calling it "Human Fly", 1978], but without credit to the original) [6] (Sinful Lilly, Crestfallen, The Dead Brothers, Nouvelle Vague, Supernaut, Hanni El Khatib, Los Esquizitos [a Mexican garage band] covered Human Fly as El Moscardón); "New Kind of Kick" (The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Drones, Muse, Tinfed); and "Thee Most Exalted Potentate of Love" (Queens of the Stone Age).

Guitars

Early on, Ivy used a clear plexiglass Dan Armstrong guitar, then the unusual Canadian-made Bill Lewis guitar heard on the first few Cramps recordings. From 1985 forward, she mostly used a 1958 Gretsch 6120 hollow-body. She used Fender Pro Reverb amplifiers onstage, and smaller Valco and Allen amps in the studio.[7]

Personal life

Ivy and Lux were married for 37 years, until his death on February 4, 2009. She lives in Glendale, California.

References

  1. ^ Sisario, Ben (February 5, 2009). "Lux Interior, 62, Dies; Lead Singer of the Punk Band the Cramps". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  2. ^ Pius (February 23, 1992). "Poison Ivy 1992 Interview" (Interview). PENETRATING INSIGHTS. Nonozeroblog.blogspot.com. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  3. ^ Jas Obrecht (August 1990). "Oooh! Poison Ivy". Guitar Player Magazine. Phnet.fi. Archived from the original (Article) on December 25, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  4. ^ J. H. Sasfy (1979). "The Cramps biography" (Extract from early biography). Liner notes of The Cramps 1979 release Gravest Hits. Thecramps.com. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  5. ^ Garry Mulholland (December 2006). "Aloha from hell! The grave tale of a dead serious rock'n'roll band". The Stool Pigeon. Thestoolpigeon.co.uk. Archived from the original (Article) on February 5, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  6. ^ Maverick 614B 45rpm, 1961
  7. ^ Sharken, Lisa (November 2003). "Poison Ivy". Vintage Guitar. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
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