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.
Janus Jeanie
Redd Kross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are the odors that are her
Mystical being with eyes of coal
That sacred substance
Will bruise your soul
On a boat with Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison
When Jesus Christ Superstar was crucified
The Beatles were still making noise
A wind blowing kiss
Is what you'll catch
With a dress of night
and a cape to match
Whistling in your state high above
Tobasco is hot; some call it love!
Eating cake with Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison
When Jesus Christ Superstar was crucified
The Disposals were still making noise
Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
On a boat with Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
When Jesus Christ Superstar was crucified
The Beatles were still making noise
Eating cake with Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
When Jesus Christ Superstar was crucified
The Disposals were still making noise!
The opening lines "Frankincense and myrrh are the odors that are her" suggest that the song is about a mysterious, mystical figure who possesses powerful and alluring qualities. The use of the words "sacred substance" implies that this being may have religious connotations or significance. The mention of Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison on a boat creates an unlikely scenario where three seemingly unrelated individuals are brought together. The mention of Jesus Christ Superstar being crucified and The Beatles still making noise highlights the time period when this song was written, likely in the 1970s.
The next stanza brings in the image of a wind blowing a kiss and a figure dressed in a cape and dress of night, painting a picture of a captivating and enchanting entity. The final lines of the stanza compare love to the heat of Tobasco, suggesting a sense of intensity and passion.
In the chorus, the repeated phrase "Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison" emphasizes the unlikely combination of these three figures and adds to the song's overall sense of mystery and intrigue. The mention of "eating cake" emphasizes the surreal nature of the scenario depicted in the song, and the final lines of the chorus echo the idea that despite the crucifixion of Jesus and the continued activity of bands like The Beatles and The Disposals, these three individuals still hold significance.
Line by Line Meaning
Frankincense and myrrh
These fragrances represent a mystical being with coal eyes
Are the odors that are her
This being emits these fragrances
Mystical being with eyes of coal
This being is shrouded in mystery and has eyes like burning coal
That sacred substance
Frankincense and myrrh are sacred substances
Will bruise your soul
Being in the presence of this being with these fragrances is powerful enough to affect one's soul
On a boat with Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison
The singer is recounting a journey on a boat with these people
When Jesus Christ Superstar was crucified
This line sets the time period for the events being spoken about
The Beatles were still making noise
This is another reference to the time period, indicating that The Beatles were still popular
A wind blowing kiss
A soft, gentle, fleeting kiss carried on the breeze
Is what you'll catch
One may be lucky enough to receive this kind of kiss
With a dress of night
The singer describes a black dress, possibly as dark as night
and a cape to match
The artist refers to a matching black cape, resembling a superhero's costume
Whistling in your state high above
Perhaps a metaphor referring to feeling happy and carefree
Tobasco is hot; some call it love!
This line seems unrelated to the rest, perhaps a non-sequitur or a reference to a previous conversation or inside joke
Eating cake with Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison
The singer is recounting another event when they ate cake with these people
The Disposals were still making noise
Another reference to the time period, indicating that this band was still active
Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
The artist repeats these names as part of the song's hook/chorus
Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
Another repetition of these names
Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
One more repetition for emphasis
On a boat with Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
The artist repeats the first line of the verse to tie it all together
When Jesus Christ Superstar was crucified
Another reminder of the story's time period
The Beatles were still making noise
Another reference to the popularity of The Beatles at the time
Eating cake with Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
A repetition of the second event being recounted in the song
When Jesus Christ Superstar was crucified
Again, setting the time period for the second event
The Disposals were still making noise!
A final reference to the time period before the song ends
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MCDONALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind