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.
Everyday There's Something New
Redd Kross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
blank faces just filling space
more people less places to go
tear up every single place
destroy this destroy that
get out of my way you fucking brat
they ain't got nothing to lose
i can't help running into you
seen those kids before
they don't ever dance
they don't love they're going down
The lyrics to Redd Kross's song "Everyday There's Something New" seem to criticize the senseless destruction and violence that takes place in society. It starts with the observation that there are always new people around, but they lack identity and purpose, just "blank faces filling space". The next few lines describe how there are now more people than places to go, which could hint at overcrowding and how people are just aimlessly wandering around with no real direction or purpose. The lines "tear up every single place" and "destroy this destroy that" seem to criticize the way some people deal with this aimlessness - by causing damage and destruction wherever they go.
The song also seems to be critical of authority figures, with the line "get out of my way you fucking brat" expressing a sense of rebellion against anyone trying to stop the chaos. The line "they ain't got nothing to lose" seems to indicate that the people causing havoc don't care about anyone or anything, including their own lives. The repetition of "I can't help running into you" contrasts with the rest of the lyrics, suggesting that the singer is caught in the chaos and can't escape it.
Finally, the lyrics describe some "kids before" who "don't ever dance" and "don't love" - this could indicate a feeling of sadness and despair at how some young people seem to be wasting their lives and not enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
Overall, "Everyday There's Something New" seems to be a critique of senseless violence and destruction in society, as well as a sense of aimlessness and sadness at the way some people are living their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
everyday there's someone new
Every single day, there are new individuals that arise, and this could refer to the fact that society regularly changes with new people and new opinions.
blank faces just filling space
There are people with blank expressions who live boring, pointless lives just to exist rather than truly live and make a difference.
more people less places to go
Since the world's population is expanding, there are fewer open spaces and unique places to explore in the world.
tear up every single place
People are destroying every environment and event they come across with no consequences or sympathy.
destroy this destroy that
People constantly seek out something to destroy or do harm to without being responsible or held accountable.
get out of my way you fucking brat
There are people with short tempers and no patience who will lash out and curse at anyone who stands in their path, even if it is unwarranted.
they ain't got nothing to lose
Some individuals behave recklessly or wildly because they have nothing to lose or do not care about the consequences of their actions because they don't value anything.
i can't help running into you
It's difficult to not run into someone who is always around and frequent in daily life, even if they seem to be causing harm and destruction around them.
pigs rolling in the mud
Some people behave in ways that are less civilized and less mature, similar to how pigs roll and play in the mud.
seen those kids before
The artist has encountered these types of people before and notes that they are lacking something essential.
they don't ever dance
These people seem to lack joy or excitement since they do not feel the need to express themselves through dance or other creative or free-form activities.
they don't love they're going down
These individuals do not seem capable of love, romantic or otherwise, and are doomed to fail or suffer in the end.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JEFFREY MCDONALD, STEVEN MCDONALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind