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.
Bubblegum Factory
Redd Kross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She had to find something that would save her
She had been on the edge too long
Until she found something that would escalate her
Soaring high so far above
Maybe even find true love
'Cause the love she had, the love she knew
Was nothing that you could call true
Take me on a tour of the bubblegum factory
I want to see where love is made
Take me on a tour of the bubblegum factory
I wanna hear those records play
She had found it, it was everything
Just something simple, something simple to sing
To bring her through to the sunshine day
Sugar, sugar made her feel O.K.
All is bright, all is calm
Just a little sweet pea gonna guide us along
A hook with a smile will last us a while
Everybody's happy, there's no denial
Take me on a tour of the bubblegum factory
I want to see where love is made
Take me on a tour of the bubblegum factory
I wanna hear those records play
Come along, there's nothing to it
Sing along, anyone can kick it at the factory
Take me on a tour of the bubblegum factory
I want to see where love is made
Take me on a tour of the bubblegum factory
I wanna hear those records play
I need to hear them play
The lyrics to Redd Kross's Bubblegum Factory are about a woman who has been struggling and feeling lost, but has found solace in something simple and sweet - bubblegum pop music. She has discovered that listening to this type of music, with its catchy hooks and upbeat rhythms, makes her feel better and helps her escape her problems. She's asking to be taken on a tour of the "bubblegum factory," which is likely a metaphor for the music industry or pop culture itself, so that she can see where this music is made and hear these records play.
The song seems to be commenting on the power of music to heal and to transport us away from our problems, much like bubblegum itself can transport us back to our childhoods and simpler times. The lyrics also suggest a longing for true love, which the woman has yet to find, but perhaps hopes to discover through the power of music. The mention of a "little sweet pea" guiding them along suggests that this music is like a guide or mentor, helping the woman and others like her navigate the challenges of life.
Overall, Bubblegum Factory is a fun and catchy song that celebrates the joy and power of pop music. It suggests that even in our darkest moments, we can find hope and happiness in something simple and sweet.
Line by Line Meaning
She knew this day would finally come
She anticipated this day will come eventually
She had to find something that would save her
She needed to find something to rescue herself
She had been on the edge too long
She felt she had reached her limit
Until she found something that would escalate her
Until she found something to uplift her spirits
Soaring high so far above
Rising high above her previous emotional state
Maybe even find true love
Possibly leading to finding genuine affection
'Cause the love she had, the love she knew
Was nothing that you could call true
She realized that the love she possessed or experienced was not genuine.
Take me on a tour of the bubblegum factory
I want to see where love is made
I want to go to a place where happy pop music is created
Take me on a tour of the bubblegum factory
I wanna hear those records play
I want to experience listening to the happy pop music they make
She had found it, it was everything
Just something simple, something simple to sing
She found that the happy pop music had everything she needed
To bring her through to the sunshine day
Sugar, sugar made her feel O.K.
The happy pop music will improve her mood
All is bright, all is calm
Just a little sweet pea gonna guide us along
A hook with a smile will last us a while
Everybody's happy, there's no denial
The music will bring joy, happiness, and peace to all listeners
Come along, there's nothing to it
Sing along, anyone can kick it at the factory
All people are welcome to join in and sing along to the happy pop music.
I need to hear them play
I desire to listen to the sugary-sweet pop music.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JEFFREY MCDONALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Heath Harrison
Great power pop hit! Thanks Redd Kross!
Abu Nimbus
Still going strong,,,their "new" album is great.
Jay Keaveny
I love this!
Munakata Jin
This is pop ! Evergreen !
malkamusik
Yes, that's Susan Cowsill on background vocals.
cleft turnip
The music is great. The look is ridiculous
MrTeknotronic
1990? jeezus im getting old
sss
fuck yes