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. Ron Reyes became the drummer. 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 original drummer John Stielow and drummer Janet Housden. 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 At 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 and Tammy Faye Bakker, 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.
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, along with Robert in the sequel Lovedolls Superstar which the brothers co-wrote with Dave Markey and Jennifer Schwartz. Both movies are available now on DVD.
In 1985, drummer Roy McDonald (formerly of The Things, and no relation to the brothers) joined the band.
In 1987, 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. The band continued to tour during these years however, and in 1988, drummer Victor Indrizzo joined the band.
On February 20, 1990, Redd Kross appeared on Episode 2 of the cult Public-access television show "Decoupage" with Summer Caprice.
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, and appears in the promotional video for "Annie's Gone", which saw some light rotation on MTV. Brian Reitzell succeeded Irons as drummer in the band, and appears in the promotional video for "1976".
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 and The Spin Doctors 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.
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 a career-spanning set at the REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney/Cal Arts Theater) at Disney Hall in Los Angeles. The band has subsequently gone on to play at the Azkena Festival in Spain, the Detour Festival in Los Angeles, give a performance of their entire first EP in honor of Rodney Bingenheimer's being awarded a star on Hollywood Boulevard, 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. They toured Spain and England in January, 2007. They have played a number of one-off shows including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. In 2008 they played the Coachella Festival in Coachella, California; ATP vs Pitchfork festival in Sussex, England; and NXNE Festival in Toronto, Ontario. In 2010, Redd Kross headlined the Turbo Rock Festival in Spain. In 2011 they headlined the POP Montreal Festival.
Redd Kross will tour Australia again as part of the Hoodoo Gurus' 30th Anniversary on the "Dig It Up" Festival concert series.
The band released "Researching the Blues" in 2012.
Linda Blair
Redd Kross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were really insane
You got busted, you got dusted
You got busted for cocain
Your born innocent, girl
And that ain't all
You got it for the first time baby n a shower stall
Kidnapped raped and possessed
Linda is the Best
She used to be on the run
But now she thinks it's a lot of fun
She takes her cigarettes from her sleeve
Now she never wants to leave
Not even when she's eighteen
Liiiiiiiiiiinda Liiiiiiiiiiinda Liiiiiiiiiiinda Liiiiiiiiiiinda
Redd Kross's song "Linda Blair" is a tribute to Linda Blair, the American actress who rose to fame for her role as Regan MacNeil in the horror classic "The Exorcist". The song's lyrics take a somewhat tongue-in-cheek approach, referencing several aspects of Blair's life and career. The opening lines mention her portrayal of a possessed child in "The Exorcist", hinting at the idea that she might have been "really insane". The next line refers to her well-publicized drug problems, for which she was "busted" and "dusted" (a slang term for using cocaine).
Later in the song, the lyrics take a darker turn. The line "Kidnapped raped and possessed" is a reference to Blair's role in another horror movie, "Born Innocent", in which she played a troubled teenager sent to a brutal reform school. The lyrics then declare "Linda is the Best", suggesting a certain admiration for Blair's on-screen abilities. The final lines mention her tendency to smoke and her rebellious streak, capping off a portrait of a woman who defied expectations and embraced her own wild side.
Overall, "Linda Blair" is a lighthearted but slightly sinister tribute to an actress who embodied both innocence and horror in her most famous roles.
Line by Line Meaning
In the Exorcist, baby
The subject of the song, Linda Blair, is being compared to the character from the movie 'The Exorcist.'
You were really insane
In the film, Linda Blair's character was depicted as being possessed, causing her to act in an insane manner.
You got busted, you got dusted
Linda Blair is rumored to have been arrested and involved with drugs.
You got busted for cocain
The previous line is clarified, stating that Linda Blair was specifically arrested for cocaine possession.
Your born innocent, girl
And that ain't all
Despite her past actions and controversies, the subject of the song was born innocent and has more to her story.
You got it for the first time baby n a shower stall
It's rumored that Linda Blair had sex for the first time in a shower stall, potentially with multiple partners.
Kidnapped raped and possessed
Linda is the Best
The subject is compared to her character in the film 'Roller Boogie,' where she portrayed a girl who was kidnapped, raped, and possessed by a violent man. Despite the traumatic events, she is seen as the best or most talented performer in the movie.
She used to be on the run
Linda Blair was rumored to have been on the run from the law or other individuals at some point in her life.
But now she thinks it's a lot of fun
Despite any past troubles or controversies, the subject of the song now enjoys her life and the attention she receives.
She takes her cigarettes from her sleeve
The subject is often seen smoking and keeping her cigarettes in her sleeve when not using them.
Now she never wants to leave
The subject is content with her current lifestyle and does not want to leave it behind.
Not even when she's eighteen
Even as she grows older, the subject will not leave her current lifestyle or the attention she receives.
Liiiiiiiiiiinda Liiiiiiiiiiinda Liiiiiiiiiiinda Liiiiiiiiiiinda
The song title is repeated and emphasized, as if in celebration of the subject of the song and her life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JEFFREY MCDONALD, STEVEN MCDONALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind