Bad Music for Bad People is the second compilation album of previously released material by the American rock band the Cramps. It was released in 1984 on I.R.S. Records and was seen by most fans as a cynical cash-in by the record label, following the departure of the band. Sounds, the now defunct UK music paper, gave the album a five-star review but said, "Miles Copeland's IRS label pick the carrion of their former label mates even cleaner by releasing a watered down version of the ...Off the Bone singles collection that was released in the UK... The music's still great even if the scheming behind Bad Music for Bad People stinks of decay and corruption".Edwin Pouncey, Sounds, March 3, 1984.
Cover art The cover art is a caricature of Lux Interior by Frederick, Maryland-based artist Stephen Blickenstaff who created it on Halloween night 1983. He attended The Cramps concerts in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and was able to meet and befriend band members with his artwork at the 9:30 Club. I.R.S. Records eventually asked for and was granted permission to use those drawings by Blickenstaff who at the time had no expectations that it would be used as album art.LaRocca, Lauren. "Local artist on the cover of Rolling Stone...sort of," The Frederick (MD) News-Post, Friday, January 17, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
The Lux Interior caricature appeared on a black t-shirt worn by Lorde when she was on the cover of the 30 January 2014 issue of Rolling Stone.Cassie, Ron. "Local Artist Makes Cover of Rolling Stone. Kind of," Baltimore (magazine), Friday 17 January 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2024. It was altered with the face of William Shatner on the front cover of a 12-inch (30.48-centimeter) neon yellow vinyl that featured both the original version and the actor's remake of "Garbageman" which was part of Record Store Day's Black Friday special releases in 2019.Taysom, Joe. "Revisiting the wonderful moment an 86-year-old William Shatner bizarrely covered punk icons The Cramps," Far Out (website), Friday 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2024.Shatner x Cramps Split Single Coming for RSD Black Friday! – Covered in Punk. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
Track listing
Personnel Lux Interior - vocals Bryan Gregory - guitar Kid Congo Powers - guitar Poison Ivy Rorschach - guitar Nick Knox - drums
Notes