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.
Annie's Gone
Redd Kross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I heard the other day
That she went and gone away
She was always sort of out of step
She couldn't ever be
Something that you couldn't see
She was always there right in your face
Annie's gone
Annie's gone
Annie's gone
It's so dark
It's so dark around here now
Can't believe she's gone away
Can't believe she's gone to stay
But it's true
Annie's gone
I guess she couldn't play
By the rules she had no say
And she did her in this way today
I know I feel like this somtimes
Feel like giving up my mind
But it's all I have and it is mine
Annie's gone
Annie's gone
Annie's gone
It's so dark
It's so dark around here now
Can't believe she's gone away
Can't believe she's gone to stay
But it's true
Annie's gone
Annie's gone....
The song "Annie's Gone" by Redd Kross is an emotional track that delves into the aftermath of losing someone close. The singer talks about how Annie went away and how it feels dark and empty since she left. Annie is described as a person who was always there, but out of step, always visible right in your face. The song touches upon the fact that she couldn't change herself for others, and she eventually ended up leaving. The singer sympathizes with Annie's plight and admits that he occasionally feels like giving up his mind as well, but at least it's something he has and it belongs to him.
The lyrics paint a picture of a person who struggled to fit in, and as a result, she couldn't continue to live by the rules and expectations set by society. The context of this song is quite intense and relatable for many people who have had their hearts broken by someone who left without a clear explanation.
Overall, Redd Kross's "Annie's Gone" is a beautifully written song that explores the emotions of loss and regret, and the chords used in the song complement the melancholic tones of the lyrics perfectly.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the other day
The singer learned of Annie's departure recently.
That she went and gone away
Annie left and is no longer present.
She was always sort of out of step
Annie never quite fit in and was different from others.
She couldn't ever be
Annie was unable to conform.
Something that you couldn't see
Annie's unconventional nature was apparent.
She was always there right in your face
Annie was present, visible, and unapologetically herself.
Annie's gone
Annie has left and is no longer part of our world.
It's so dark
The absence of Annie is depressing and makes life seem bleak.
Can't believe she's gone away
The artist is having a hard time accepting that Annie has left.
Can't believe she's gone to stay
It seems to the artist that Annie will not return.
But it's true
The reality of Annie's departure is hard to accept but true nonetheless.
I guess she couldn't play
Perhaps Annie was unable to comply with social norms and expectations.
By the rules she had no say
Annie may have felt that she had no control over her life because she was different.
And she did her in this way today
Annie left in this manner that might have been unexpected to some.
I know I feel like this somtimes
The singer can relate to feeling helpless and hopeless like Annie might have.
Feel like giving up my mind
The artist might feel like they are losing their own sense of self or sanity.
But it's all I have and it is mine
Despite struggling at times, the artist feels it is important to hold onto their identity.
Contributed by Evan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
SerialGothQueens
I had Jeff McDonald's exact hair for years, including when I first saw them live in 1990, lol. Freaking love these guys; it will forever be a mystery to me how and why they didn't become massive!
39Panzerman
@Scotty P The singer was around 30 something when this song came out (he looks WAY younger tho)
Scotty P
It's because; ironically in that they were still quite young, they'd been around 'too long' and the business needed some 'younger' rip off merchants (with a modicum of credibility) to take 'Alternatve Rock' to the mainstream. (Cue - Nirvana)
krista hoeberg
no band is cooler than Redd Kross....great evolution over the years...this video is jam packed with great timing
Thomas Minarchick Jr.
Hilarious that Steven is in the Melvins now
atlfalcon13
@DrGrafenberg Disagree.
DrGrafenberg
@atlfalcon13 Red Kross don't have good songs tho
atlfalcon13
@DrGrafenberg The bass player from Redd Kross played bass on Jellyfish's Spilt Milk.
DrGrafenberg
Jellyfish were/are
Pat Rigole
Great song from a great album!! "Third Eye" remains one of my all time faves to this day. Such an underrated and underappreciated piece of music!!!