Bryan Gregory

Infobox musical artist
Name = Bryan Gregory
Background = khaki
Birth_name = Bryan Gregory
Born = birth date|1954|2|20
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died = death date and age|2001|1|10|1954|2|20
Anaheim, California, United States
Genre = psychobilly
Occupation = Guitarist, Songwriter
Associated_acts = The Cramps, Beast, The Dials
Years_active = 1976–2001
Instrument = Guitar

Bryan Gregory (Gregory Beckerleg, February 20 1954 – January 10 2001) was an American rock musician, and founding member of and guitarist for The Cramps.

Gregory met Cramps member Poison Ivy at a mutual job they shared at a record store in NYC. Being attracted to the image of the Cramps, Bryan took up second guitar in April 1976 and was a distinctive sight in the early incarnation of the Cramps, along with his sister Pam Balaam (Pam Beckerleg) on drums. He was known for his oozing guitar sound, wild stage antics, long hair with a skunk stripe over his eye, and acne scarred face. He appeared on The Cramps first two albums "Gravest Hits" and "Songs The Lord Taught Us". He left the band in 1980 with most of the equipment and was later replaced by Kid Congo Powers from the Gun Club. After the Cramps Gregory went on to play in Beast from 1980-1984, The Dials from 1992-1995 and a band called Shiver. His departure from the Cramps led to a rift between him and band members and fans. He subsequently fell into obscurity and eventually died at Anaheim Memorial Medical Center at age 46 from a heart attack.

Legacy and influence

His noisy brand of guitar playing was an inspiration to people like Jim Reid, and Sonic Boom, as well as others who would go on to make up the shoegaze scene of the mid-'80s.