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.
I Don't Know How to Be Your Friend
Redd Kross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I looked at my face this morning
I just couldn't comb my hair
Ate two candy bars for breakfast
Guess I really didn't care
Had to force myself to wake up
I just had to start my day
Didn't want to see the things out there
Hope this day won't last too long
Hope that nothing will go wrong
It doesn't take all that much
To bring me back down again
I don't know how to be your friend
I don't know how to be your friend
I don't know how to be your friend
You say that we'll be together
Friends like us don't fade away
But it's been a year or so
I wonder now, where did you go?
I sit on my bed and wonder
Try to figure out my mood
Man, I really hate this morning
And I think I'm hating you
I think about the things that you said
When I felt bad
Did you keep me hanging around
Until you found it?
But you are not nice anymore
So why don't I just find the door
Oh, I-I-I don't know how to be your friend
I don't know how to be your friend....
The lyrics of Redd Kross's song "I Don't Know How to Be Your Friend" depict a sense of loneliness and confusion, as the singer struggles to connect with others. The first verse reflects a sense of apathy towards the world, with the singer demonstrating a lack of concern for their appearance and health. The second verse focuses more on the singer's relationship with the person they're singing about. While they express desires for a lasting friendship, they also question where their friend has gone and whether they were ever truly supportive.
The chorus, repeated three times throughout the song, highlights the singer's struggle with friendship. They admit that they don't know how to be a friend, which could be interpreted as a confession of insecurity or fear of vulnerability. At the same time, the repetition of the phrase emphasizes the singer's frustration and confusion.
Overall, the song's lyrics capture a sense of loneliness and isolation, as the singer's feelings of inadequacy prevent them from forming strong connections with others. The lack of resolution or closure in the lyrics adds to this feeling, leaving the listener with a sense of uncertainty and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
I looked at my face this morning
I woke up feeling ugly and unattractive
I just couldn't comb my hair
I lacked the motivation or energy to get ready for the day
Ate two candy bars for breakfast
I made unhealthy choices and didn't care about my well-being
Guess I really didn't care
I was apathetic towards taking care of myself
Had to force myself to wake up
I struggled to get out of bed and start my day
I just had to start my day
I had no choice but to begin my day, even though I didn't want to
Didn't want to leave my room
I felt safer and more comfortable staying in my room
Didn't want to see the things out there
I was anxious and fearful about facing the challenges of the outside world
Hope this day won't last too long
I wanted the day to be over quickly and without incident
Hope that nothing will go wrong
I didn't want any more problems or challenges to arise
It doesn't take all that much
My mood can easily be affected by external factors
To bring me back down again
Small setbacks or disappointments can send me into a negative spiral
You say that we'll be together
You promised that we would always be friends
Friends like us don't fade away
You assured me that our friendship would never fade or die
But it's been a year or so
It has been a significant amount of time since we spent time together
I wonder now, where did you go?
I am confused and concerned about why our friendship has drifted apart
I sit on my bed and wonder
I am alone in my thoughts and contemplating our friendship
Try to figure out my mood
I am attempting to understand and analyze my current emotional state
Man, I really hate this morning
I am frustrated and upset with how my day is going
And I think I'm hating you
I am placing blame on you for my negative feelings
I think about the things that you said
I am reflecting on the words you have spoken to me in the past
When I felt bad
During times when I was struggling or experiencing difficult emotions
Did you keep me hanging around
Did you continue to be friends with me out of convenience or obligation?
Until you found it?
Did you stay in the friendship until you found someone else or something better to do?
But you are not nice anymore
You have changed and are no longer a kind or supportive friend
So why don't I just find the door
I am questioning why I am still holding onto this friendship given the negative changes I have seen
Oh, I-I-I don't know how to be your friend
I am acknowledging that I am struggling to maintain our friendship due to changes in both of us
Contributed by Austin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.