psychobilly, punkabilly (1978)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

psychobilly (not in OED)

1978 _NME_ 10 June (backpages.com) In fact, The Cramps, like The Ramones,
have moulded for themselves a high maverick style, and are busy exploring
the possibilities of that style. As I later discovered, its given name is
psychotic punkabilly, or psychobilly for short.
<http://backpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=915>

punkabilly (not in OED)

1978 _Creem_ Feb. (backpages.com) He's a sensitive punkabilly, continually
getting dumped on by girls.
<http://backpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=6103>

1979 _Los Angeles Times_ 24 June (Calendar) 95/4 New York punkabilly
voodoo band The Cramps which wowed L.A. audiences at the Troubador last
Spring is in England recording its debut LP for IRS Records.

1979 _Los Angeles Times_ 17 Oct. IV15/1 Unlike so many rockabilly units
that try faithfully to replay the original music, the Cramps update
rockabilly -- injecting starkness and melodrama so that it becomes a sort
of punkabilly.


--Ben Zimmer