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.
Neurotica
Redd Kross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'cause you brought it to us
Feeling oh so crazy
I just don't know why ... just because
Neurotica's coming down fast
Take me to your couch babe
Recite some Sigmund Freud
Let me clean your house babe
Celebration
Masturbation
Participation
Penetration!
Long haired friends of Jesus
In a chartreuse microbus
Come on lose your mind
Now you're one of us ...
Neurotica's coming down fast
Yes I'll deal with your goat's brain
Yes my dear you are insane
"Get that salami sandwich out of here!"
(It's just a concept)
Ain't normal love
Not a spot o'
I gotta lotta
Neurotica!
Neurotica (neurotica)
Neurotica (neurotica)
Neurotica (neurotica)
Neurotica (neurotica) ...
The song "Neurotica" by Redd Kross is a combination of playful and absurd lyrics that explore the concept of neurosis. The opening lines "It's coming up now, baby 'cause you brought it to us, feeling oh so crazy, I just don't know why... just because" suggests that the subject matter of the song is being brought out by the person addressed in the song. The chorus line "Neurotica's coming down fast" intensifies the urgency of the matter at hand.
The following lines are a play on the word neurosis, as if it is something that can be cured through various activities such as going to a therapist, cleaning the house or celebrating. The lyrics "Celebration, Masturbation, Participation, Penetration!" are juxtaposed absurdly, implying that these are all ways to deal with neurosis. The mention of "long-haired friends of Jesus in a chartreuse microbus" seems to be a reference to the counterculture movement of the 1960s and the belief that they could cure their neurosis through unconventional methods.
The song's closing lines "I gotta lotta Neurotica!" repeats the intense need to deal with the issue at hand. All in all, "Neurotica" can be interpreted as a playful commentary on the complex issue of neurosis.
Line by Line Meaning
It's coming up now, baby
The feeling of neurosis is starting to surface within the singer.
'cause you brought it to us
The singer attributes the emergence of neurosis to the influence of someone else.
Feeling oh so crazy
The singer is experiencing intense emotions related to neurosis.
I just don't know why ... just because
The artist cannot identify a specific reason for the onset of neurotic symptoms.
Neurotica's coming down fast
The artist is becoming overwhelmed by neurotic symptoms.
Take me to your couch babe
The singer seeks psychological help for their neurotic symptoms.
Recite some Sigmund Freud
The singer hopes to engage in psychoanalytic therapy to address their neurosis.
Let me clean your house babe
The artist offers to perform a task to gain favor or distract from their neurotic symptoms.
Don't bother to avoid
The artist insists that others do not shy away from their presence due to neurotic symptoms.
Celebration
The artist celebrates their unconventional behavior or thought patterns related to neurosis.
Masturbation
The singer seeks pleasure or relief from neurosis through masturbation.
Participation
The artist seeks to involve others in their neurotic thought patterns or behaviors.
Penetration!
The singer seeks sexual encounters as a means of coping with neurosis.
Long haired friends of Jesus
The singer references a group of people who may be able to relate to unconventional behavior or thought patterns.
In a chartreuse microbus
The singer describes these individuals as being associated with a distinct counterculture movement.
Come on lose your mind
The artist invites others to engage in unconventional behavior or thought patterns associated with neurosis.
Now you're one of us ...
The artist welcomes others who are experiencing similar symptoms of neurosis.
Yes I'll deal with your goat's brain
The singer offers to help others with neurotic symptoms despite their seemingly bizarre nature.
Yes my dear you are insane
The singer acknowledges their own or someone else's mental illness.
"Get that salami sandwich out of here!"
The artist expresses an aversion or irrational fear associated with their neurosis.
(It's just a concept)
The artist recognizes the irrational nature of their neurosis as a mere concept or construct.
Ain't normal love
The artist's neurotic symptoms manifest in unconventional or abnormal expressions of love or affection.
Not a spot o'
The singer is free of neurotic symptoms in this moment or context.
I gotta lotta
The artist experiences a significant quantity of neurotic symptoms.
Neurotica!
Neurotica (neurotica)
Neurotica (neurotica)
Neurotica (neurotica) ...
The repetition of 'Neurotica' throughout the song reinforces the central theme of the song: the experience of neurotic symptoms.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JEFFREY MCDONALD, ROB HECKER, STEVEN MCDONALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Julia Gerson
Ordered the day it was announced! What's one more copy of one of the best albums ever. 🙃 Wish the shirt design was better though.
mason willie aames
Putting Xs on the calendar every day. Can't wait!
Barry Oliver
Looking forward to this!
DJ Andy Allnighter
Nice ⭐⭐⭐
Stephan Snow
🎵🎶❤️
cort o
Fantastic
GENXVR
HIt it!
The Zex Row
wowww
Pestesoidubutor
Obligatory purchase !
Antedegumon
Os mutantes