THE CRAMPS LIVE AT NAPA STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL MUSIC VIDEO DISTRIBUTORS WHO ...

IVE AT NAPA STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL MUSIC VIDEO DISTRIBUTORS

WHO IN THE administration of the Napa State Mental Hospital thought to himself, "Yeah, I can see it—why not let a psychobilly punk bank play the day room in front of a couple dozen emotionally disturbed patients?" However it happened, I'm glad it did.

The video and sound quality aren't exactly top-notch, but this golden age (1981) Cramps performance is absolutely electrifying. And the reaction of the crowd is at turns funny, touching and terrifying—from the drugged shufflings early on to the general mayhem that explodes near the end of the set.

It was clear no one knew what was going to happen—and there's real, if momentary, fear in Lux Interior's eyes when he's tackled by a young female patient who begins screaming, "I got the cramps! I got the cramps"

For my money, though, nothing tops the patient who takes the stage, knocks Interior out of the way, grabs the mic and lets loose with a strangled howl that could've only come from deep inside somewhere hellish.

No extras to be found here, but none are needed. It's one of the greatest live performances of all time.