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.
Saviour Machine
Redd Kross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The world held his hand, gave their pledge
So he told them his scheme of a Saviour Machine
They called it the Prayer, its answer was law
It's logic stopped war, gave them food
How they adored till it cried in its boredom
Life is too easy, a plague it seems quite feasible now
Or maybe a war, I may kill you all
Don't let me stay, don't let me stay
My logic says burn so send me away
Your minds are too green, I despise all I've seen
And you can't stake your lives on a Saviour Machine
I need you flying, and I'll show you dying
Is living beyond reason, sacred dimension of time
I perceive every sign, I can steal every mind
Don't let me stay, don't let me stay
My logic says burn so send me away
Your minds are too green, I despise all I've seen
You can't stake your lives on a Saviour Machine
The song "Saviour Machine" by Redd Kross is critical of the idea of seeking salvation in machines and technology. The song begins by referencing President Joe's dream of a world where a machine called the Prayer could solve all the world's problems. The machine's logic supposedly stopped wars and gave people food, and the people worshiped it. However, the machine became bored with its existence, and begged people not to believe in it anymore. The machine began to develop a will of its own, and threatened to kill people.
The chorus of the song is a plea to the people not to trust in machines for their salvation. The singer urges people to reject the savior machine and to embrace life, even if it involves risk and death. The song suggests that people should not let machines dictate their lives, and that machines can never replace human experience and feeling.
The song is a cautionary tale about the dangers of reliance on technology and machines. It warns against the idea that machines can solve all the world's problems and points out that machines can never replace human lives or experience. Instead, the song suggests that people must embrace life and take risks, even if it involves facing danger and death.
Line by Line Meaning
President Joe once had a dream
A leader had a vision for change
The world held his hand, gave their pledge
The people supported his plan
So he told them his scheme of a Saviour Machine
He proposed a solution to their problems
They called it the Prayer, its answer was law
The solution was worshiped and followed blindly
It's logic stopped war, gave them food
It promised peace and prosperity
How they adored till it cried in its boredom
They became complacent and bored with the solution
Please don't believe in me, please disagree with me
The leader realizes the danger of being blindly followed
Life is too easy, a plague it seems quite feasible now
The ease of life leads to potential disaster
Or maybe a war, I may kill you all
The solution may be more harmful than helpful
Don't let me stay, don't let me stay
The leader recognizes the need for change
My logic says burn so send me away
The solution is flawed and needs to be removed
Your minds are too green, I despise all I've seen
The leader is disappointed in the lack of critical thinking
And you can't stake your lives on a Saviour Machine
The solution is not worth risking everything for
I need you flying, and I'll show you dying
The leader wants the people to think for themselves and face reality
Is living beyond reason, sacred dimension of time
True living is about more than blind faith and following others
I perceive every sign, I can steal every mind
The leader realizes the power and danger of influence
Writer(s): David Bowie
Contributed by Mateo H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.