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.
Love Is Not Love
Redd Kross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see you through a fog so dense
Like a sky strained through my mind
Like a very sudden changhe
Someone you left behind
The year the great strike broke out
Fruit rotted on the tres
reflections of me
Love- it can be so ugly
It leaves with so much pain
You - I think I loved - Because
Like me your not quite sane
(Love is not love) Give me something I can feel
(Love is not love) Give me love that's so surreal
Tie your chains around me
'Cuz I am sick of being free
The Santa Ana's are blowing tonight
Reminding me of you
You out me on an astral plain
I'm thinking of you
So give to me a little charity
I think I'm feeling down
It's kind of strange how I feel much better
When you're around
Love- it can be so ugly
It leaves with so much pain
You - I think I loved -Because
Like me your not quite sane
And I know - I've lived in this state before
I know the score
Yes I know what it's like - not to tell
Reality from delusion
The solution is
Love is love is love
(Love is not love) Give me something I can feel
(Love is not love) Give me love that's so surreal
Tie your chains around me
'Cuz I am sick of being free
(Love is not love) Give me something I can feel
(Love is not love) Give me love that's so surreal
Tie your chains around me
'Cuz I am sick of being free
Sing it on out
Sing it out
Singing it out
The lyrics to Redd Kross's song "Love Is Not Love" are a metaphor for the complicated nature of love and the emotional struggles that often come with it. The first verse sets the scene of a dense fog that obscures the view, much like the haze of confusion that can come with love. The lines "someone you left behind" and "fruit rotted on the trees "suggest a sense of abandonment and the idea that something once beautiful has become stagnant. The chorus drives home the idea that love isn't as simple as it seems, with the repetition of the line "love is not love" challenging traditional notions of what love should be.
The second verse introduces the idea of the Santa Ana winds, which are known for their warm, dry gusts that can cause chaos in their wake. The comparison between these winds and the emotions stirred up by the thought of a past love further emphasizes the idea of love being a volatile force. The request for "charity" in the following lines suggests a plea for kindness or understanding in dealing with these turbulent emotions. The bridge of the song acknowledges that love can be confusing and that sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference between "reality and delusion". Ultimately, the song concludes with the assertion that "love is love is love", underscoring the complexity of love and the many ways it can manifest.
Line by Line Meaning
I see you through a fog so dense
My perception of you is clouded by confusion and uncertainty
Like a sky strained through my mind
My thoughts of you are filtered through a chaotic mental state
Like a very sudden changhe
You disappearing from my life was an abrupt and jarring event
Someone you left behind
I am the person that you left behind
The year the great strike broke out
I associate you leaving with a time of upheaval and uncertainty
Fruit rotted on the tres
Nature shows signs of decay and death, echoing how I feel inside without you
Fell into stagnent pools
Everything feels stagnant and unchanging without you
reflections of me
The state of everything around me reflects my own feelings of emptiness and despair
Love- it can be so ugly
Love can be a dark and painful experience
It leaves with so much pain
The end of love can cause significant emotional hurt
You - I think I loved - Because
I may have loved you because we share a similarity or kinship in our not-quite-sane ways
Like me your not quite sane
I sense a lack of normalcy or mental stability in you, similar to myself
(Love is not love) Give me something I can feel
I want love that is genuine and authentic, not something that is hollow or insincere
(Love is not love) Give me love that's so surreal
I want love that feels like a dream, something that is beyond the ordinary or mundane
Tie your chains around me
I am asking you to bind me to you so that I do not have to be free and alone
'Cuz I am sick of being free
Freedom has lost its appeal and I would rather be tied to you than be on my own
The Santa Ana's are blowing tonight
The winds are blowing and I am reminded of you
Reminding me of you
The winds evoke memories and emotions associated with you
You out me on an astral plain
You lifted me to a higher level of existence or being, emotionally or spiritually
I'm thinking of you
My thoughts are consumed with thoughts of you
So give to me a little charity
I am asking for a small amount of kindness or compassion from you
I think I'm feeling down
I am experiencing sadness or depression
It's kind of strange how I feel much better
My emotional state is improved when you are near, even though it seems illogical
When you're around
Your presence has a positive impact on my emotional state
And I know - I've lived in this state before
I recognize that I have experienced these emotions and thoughts before
I know the score
I know what to expect and how things will likely turn out
Yes I know what it's like - not to tell
I understand the feeling of keeping things to myself or being unable to express my emotions
Reality from delusion
I am familiar with the difficulty of distinguishing between what is real and what is imagined
The solution is
The answer or remedy to my situation is
Love is love is love
The essence of love is itself, and there is no substitute for its force and power
(Love is not love) Give me something I can feel
I want love that is genuine and authentic, not something that is hollow or insincere
(Love is not love) Give me love that's so surreal
I want love that feels like a dream, something that is beyond the ordinary or mundane
Tie your chains around me
I am asking you to bind me to you so that I do not have to be free and alone
'Cuz I am sick of being free
Freedom has lost its appeal and I would rather be tied to you than be on my own
Sing it on out
Keep singing until the message is heard or shared
Sing it out
Project your emotions and feelings through song
Singing it out
Continuously expressing yourself through song until the emotions subside
Contributed by Aria W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.