Redd Kross, a rock band from Hawthorne, California had their roots in 1978 … Read Full Bio ↴Redd Kross, a rock band from Hawthorne, California had their roots in 1978 in a band called The Tourists begun by Jeff and Steve McDonald while the brothers were still in middle school. With the addition of friends Greg Hetson and Dave Keller on guitar and John Stielow on drums, the band's first gig was opening for Black Flag.

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 You
Redd Kross Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're my love
You're my happiness
You're the one
You're the reason why it's true
oh yes you
You're the sun
All it's happiness
You're my love

and all my love is you
oh yes you

Won't you stay just a little while
We can be friends
Share a smile
Loving you is all I need
When you say that love is me
You're the smile
Reflections of my face
In your eyes
I know it's always you
oh yes you
You're my love
You're my happiness
You're the one
You're the reason why it's true
oh yes you
You're the sun
All it's happiness
You're my love
and all my love is you
oh yes you

Won't you stay just a little while
We can be friends
Share a smile

Loving you is all I need
When you say that love is me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Redd Kross's song "Love Is You" speak of a deep and all-consuming love that one feels for another person. The singer addresses their beloved and thanks them for being the reason for their joy and happiness. They describe this person as a source of light and warmth in their life, someone who brings them boundless happiness and is the reason why their love is true. The singer expresses a desire for their lover to stay with them just a little while longer so that they can enjoy each other's company as friends and share a smile. The chorus repeats the sentiment that this person is everything to the singer, their love and their happiness, and that their love is reciprocated in full.

The lyrics of "Love Is You" are simple yet powerful, expressing a visceral love for another person that is all-consuming and unrelenting. The song portrays love as the ultimate source of happiness and fulfillment. The singer recognizes that their love for this person is all-encompassing and that their presence in their life is enough to make everything worthwhile. The song is a tribute to the power of love and its ability to transform our lives and bring us joy.

Line by Line Meaning

You're my love
You are the love of my life, the one I cherish most

You're my happiness
Being with you brings me joy and contentment

You're the one
Out of all the people in the world, you are the one I want to be with

You're the reason why it's true
You are the cause of my happiness and love, making it all real and meaningful

oh yes you
I am emphasizing that it is truly you who I am speaking of and feeling for

You're the sun
You bring light and warmth into my life

All its happiness
With you, my life is full of joy and positive feelings

and all my love is you
All the love I have to give is directed towards you, and only you

Won't you stay just a little while
Asking for your continued presence in my life

We can be friends
Even if we don't become more, I value your friendship

Share a smile
Let's find joy in each other's company