Redd Kross

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Redd Kross
Redd Kross 2007
Redd Kross 2007
Background information
Also known as Red Cross, The Tourists
Origin Hawthorne, CA, U.S.
Genre(s) Power pop
Pop punk
Hardcore punk
Alternative rock
Years active 1980-1997
2004-Present
Associated acts Black Flag
Members
Jeff McDonald, Steve McDonald, Robert Hecker, and Roy McDonald
Former members
Dez Cadena, Gere Fennelly, Greg Hetson, Glenn Holland, Janet Housden, Victor Indrizzo, Jack Irons, Eddie Kurdziel, Tracy Lea, Dave Peterson, Vicki Peterson, Brian Reitzell, Ron Reyes, John Stielow

Redd Kross, a rock band from Hawthorne, California had their roots in 1978 in a band called The Tourists begun by Jeff and Steve McDonald while the brothers were still in middle school. With the addition of friends Greg Hetson and Dave Keller on guitar and John Stielow on drums, the band's first gig was opening for Black Flag.

Contents

[edit] Band history

[edit] Red Cross

At the time of their first self-titled EP, in 1980, the band changed their name to Red Cross, which was allegedly inspired by the masturbation scene in the film, "The Exorcist." Eventually, Hetson left to join the Circle Jerks and later, Bad Religion and Reyes left for Black Flag. Keller left to join Trixie and the Doorknobs as its guitarist and singer. To complete the lineup on their first full-length album, Born Innocent, they assembled a revolving door of musicians including a young John Stielow on the drums. Full of the brothers' pop culture obsessions, Born Innocent featured odes to Linda Blair (who starred in a television movie of the same name), a cover of "Look on Up from the Bottom" by the Carrie Nations from Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, and Charles Manson (whose song "Cease to Exist" they covered). The album also contains nods to Jim & Tammy Baker, Tatum O'Neal, and Lita Ford. Not long after the release of the album, the group was threatened with a lawsuit from the International Red Cross and changed their name to Redd Kross, allegedly being inspired by Redd Foxx.

[edit] Redd Kross

In 1984, Redd Kross returned with drummer Dave Peterson to record Teen Babes from Monsanto, an album featuring songs originally by such artists as KISS, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, and The Shangri-Las.

In 1984, lead guitarist Robert Hecker joined the band, as Redd Kross embarked on tour in support of Teen Babes from Monsanto.

In that same year, they were featured on the soundtrack of Desperate Teenage Lovedolls with their cover of the Brady Bunch Kids' "It's a Sunshine Day". Jeff and Steve appear in the movie, and its sequel Lovedolls Superstar and as well co-wrote it with Dave Markey and Jennifer Schwartz. Both movies are available now on DVD.

Returning in 1987 with new drummer Roy McDonald (formally of The Things) in tow, Redd Kross released Neurotica, an album reportedly influenced by Saturday morning cartoons and breakfast cereal (one of the songs was called "Frosted Flake"). Although the album itself was successful, the band's label, Big Time Records folded, and due to related legal problems, Redd Kross was unable to record any new material under its own name for three years. The band continued to tour during these years however, and in 1988, drummer Victor Indrizzo joined the band.

[edit] Tater Totz

As The Tater Totz, the McDonalds teamed with Pat Fear of White Flag and Michael Quercio from The Three O'Clock and released Alien Sleestaks from Brazil, the title a tribute to the series Land of the Lost. Another cover collection, it included songs originally by Queen and Yoko Ono, and featured a cover of The Beatles' "I've Just Seen A Face" with lead vocals by guest Danny Bonaduce. The second Tater Totz album, in 1989, included Cherie Currie of The Runaways, and Pat Smear. A third Tater Totz album was released after Redd Kross re-formed, called Tater Comes Alive. A side project, Anarchy 6 had two releases, Hardcore Lives! and a cassette only album Live Like a Suicidal, and was featured in Lovedolls Superstar.

[edit] 1990s

In 1990, Redd Kross signed with Atlantic Records, releasing Third Eye, and appeared with David Cassidy in the film Spirit of '76, and issued several singles, including "Annie's Gone", which had some mild success on college radio. Former Red Hot Chili Peppers / future Pearl Jam drummer Jack Irons joined for the Third Eye tours.

In 1991, Robert Hecker took leave from the band.

The album Phaseshifter was released in 1993, with new band members Eddie Kurdziel, Gere Fennelly, and Brian Reitzell. The videos for "Jimmy's Fantasy" and "Lady In The Front Row" were both shown on MTV's 120 Minutes. They toured on Phaseshifter for over a year, headling their own shows as well as tours supporting The Lemonheads in late 1993 and Stone Temple Pilots in 1994. In 1995, Jeff and his wife, Charlotte Caffey (from The Go-Go's), had a daughter, named Astrid.

In 1997, Redd Kross released Show World, produced by Chris Shaw (who also produced albums for Weezer and Soul Asylum) and toured supporting The Presidents of the United States of America. The band took an indefinite hiatus after the Show World tour, and their future was uncertain after the untimely death of guitarist Eddie Kurdziel on June 6, 1999.

[edit] Current

On July 1, 2006, Redd Kross returned to the live stage after almost a decade's absence. The Neurotica-era line up of Jeff McDonald, Steven McDonald, Robert Hecker and Roy McDonald performed at the REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney/Cal Arts Theater) at Disney Hall in Los Angeles. They played a career-spanning set, and introduced some new material ("Stay Away From Downtown"). The band has played shows at the Azkena Festival in Spain, the Detour Festival in Los Angeles, a performance of their entire first EP in honor of Rodney Bingenheimer's being awarded a star on Hollywood Blvd., and a set consisting of the entire Born Innocent album opening for Sonic Youth (who performed Daydream Nation) at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. The band is currently recording a new album as of Sept. 2007.

[edit] Trivia

[edit] Related Projects/Soundtracks

  • In the summer of 2002, Steven McDonald mashed-up The White Stripes' album White Blood Cells. McDonald's album was entitled Redd Blood Cells, and featured the same track listing as the original, but with added bass tracks from McDonald. The album was an internet-only release, with 2 new songs appearing every week, along with a diary of liner notes from Steven as he worked through the process of being "Steven White". The album received very good reviews, and grew so popular that the server crashed when over 50,000 people went to download tracks on the same day. It has become a rare must-have album for die-hard White Stripes and Redd Kross fans.
  • In addition to the Lovedolls films and Spirit of '76, members of Redd Kross have appeared in a few films of director Allison Anders. Steve, Jeff, and Brian played members of Matt Dillon's Beach Boys-esque rock band in Grace of My Heart. Jeff played a junkie songwriter in Sugar Town. Jeff and Steve both featured in Things Behind The Sun.
  • Redd Kross songs appear on various on the soundtracks to Good Burger, PCU, Bordello of Blood, An American Werewolf in Paris, and Varsity Blues.
  • Steven produced all of Imperial Teen's records, usually with the band and his wife, Anna Waronker. He was Beck's bassist for the Sea Changes tour. Steven also has produced Turbonegro's 2005 release Party Animals, and has had a hand in producing/recording with bands such as Be Your Own Pet, The Format, and Neon.
  • Steven plays bass on the 2006 release "Hello Young Lovers" by Sparks and has also been their touring bassist.
  • The McDonald brothers also produced The Donnas in 1999, on their album Get Skintight.
  • Ze Malibu Kids is a band featuring the McDonald brothers, Anna Waronker, and Astrid, that released an album entitled "Sound It Out" in 2002.
  • Robert Hecker has released two albums with the band IT'S OK, entitled "IT'S OK", and "Dream". Both albums are available on their site - http://www.itsoktheband.com/ . Robert also appears as a special guest on a few Chemical People records, featuring Dave Naz on drums.
  • Janet Housden went on to be in several popular and not-so-popular L.A. combos, including the Lovedolls, the Waifs, the Superkools, the Excessories, and currently plays with the Shakes. She also starred in Desperate Teenage Lovedolls and its sequel, Lovedolls Superstar, as Patch "Christ" Kelly.
  • Roy McDonald has been playing with The Muffs (led by former The Pandoras member Kim Shattuck) since the mid 90s.
  • Jeff McDonald produced the Sympathy for the Record Industry debut (and only) release by The Beards, which features Kim Shattuck, and Lisa Marr.

[edit] Discography / Videography

[edit] Albums

[edit] EPs

  • Red Cross (1980)
  • 2500 Redd Kross Fans Can't Be Wrong (1993)

[edit] DVDs

  • Got LIVE if you must! (2008)

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
US Hot 100 US Modern Rock US Mainstream Rock UK Singles Chart
1990 "Annie's Gone" - #16 - - Third Eye
1992 "Trance" - - - - -
1993 "Switchblade Sister" - - - - -
1993 "Lady in the Front Row" - - - - Phaseshifter
1994 "Visionary" - - - #75 Phaseshifter
1994 "Yesterday Once More" - - - #45 If I Were a Carpenter
1997 "Get Out Of Myself" - - - #63 Show World
1997 "Mess Around" - - - - Show World
1997 "Secret Life" - - - - Show World

[edit] Compilation appearances

[edit] External links

Languages