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 & George Harrison
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 lyrics to Redd Kross's song "Janus Jeanie & George Harrison" are quite abstract and open to interpretation, but there are several recurring motifs throughout. One of the most striking is the use of religious symbolism, particularly in the opening lines referencing frankincense and myrrh, which were both used in ancient times as sacred substances in religious ceremonies. The unnamed "mystical being" with eyes of coal also has strong religious overtones, and the idea that these substances "will bruise your soul" suggests a certain danger associated with religious experience.
The central image of the song, however, is that of being on a boat with Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison at a particular moment in time - when Jesus Christ Superstar was crucified and the Beatles were still making noise. The significance of this temporal marker is somewhat elusive, but it seems to suggest a sense of being caught between different cultural and historical moments, as well as a fascination with nostalgia and the cultural figures of the past. The repetition of the names Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison throughout the song reinforces this sense of fixation on certain figures or ideas.
Overall, the lyrics to "Janus Jeanie & George Harrison" present a dreamlike vision that is open to multiple interpretations. Its combination of religious symbolism, cultural nostalgia, and surreal imagery make it a challenging but intriguing piece of poetry.
Line by Line Meaning
Frankincense and myrrh
The fragrances associated with religious rituals
Are the odors that are her
The mystical being is associated with these fragrances
Mystical being with eyes of coal
The being is mysterious and has dark eyes
That sacred substance
Referring back to the frankincense and myrrh
Will bruise your soul
The power of the substance is intense and transformative
On a boat with Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison
The singer is on a boat with these three people
When Jesus Christ Superstar was crucified
Referring to a specific moment in time
The Beatles were still making noise
The Beatles were still an active band
A wind blowing kiss
Suggesting a romantic gesture
Is what you'll catch
Implying the romantic gesture is directed at the listener
With a dress of night
The person giving the kiss is wearing dark clothing
and a cape to match
The clothing includes a cape
Whistling in your state high above
The singer is making a high-pitched sound in a state of elevated consciousness
Tobasco is hot; some call it love!
A playful line that equates love with a hot sauce
Eating cake with Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison
The singer is sharing a meal with these three people
The Disposals were still making noise
Referring to another active band
Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
Repeated mention of these three people
Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
Continued repetition
Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
Again, the same three names
Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
Repeating the names as if in a trance
On a boat with Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
Repeating an earlier line to continue the hypnotic effect
When Jesus Christ Superstar was crucified
Returning to the earlier reference to this event
The Beatles were still making noise
Repeating an earlier line to emphasize the passage of time
Eating cake with Janus, Jeanie, and George Harrison!
Repeating an earlier line to continue the dreamlike narrative
When Jesus Christ Superstar was crucified
A final reminder of the earlier reference to this event
The Disposals were still making noise!
Concluding the song with a reference to the earlier band mentioned
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MCDONALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind