Psychobilly
tagStarted 1976Peak 1981–1992Last big hit still active
Psychobilly pushes rockabilly through punk speed, horror imagery, frenetic upright bass attack, and manic guitar tone. The tempos are faster, the mood darker or more cartoon-macabre, and the vocals more unhinged than traditional rockabilly.
History
The Cramps are widely treated as progenitors, while The Meteors are often cited as the first fully formed psychobilly band. From Britain the sound spread across Europe and the U.S., spawning scenes that blended horror-film fun, subcultural style, and increasingly aggressive hybrid rockabilly.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- psychobilly scene histories
- The Guardian
- Britannica on rockabilly
- classic-subculture writing