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.
Sick Love
Redd Kross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be your clown
Be a prophet for six months now
They kicked me out
You used to pick on me
Now I'm on the cover of your magazine
Without a reason
Don't make me laugh
I won't kiss your ass
I will not do it (I will not)
I wouldn't know how to do it (I will not)
I figured from the start (I figured from the start)
I'd give you half my heart (I'd give you half my heart)
But that amounts to twice as much as you
Kiss the boot - made of suede
Kiss the mirror
Before the image starts to fade
Then it's gone
I've known all along
That what you did was wrong
You are so evil - and ugly too
Don't make me laugh
I won't kiss your ass
I will not do it (I will not)
I wouldn't know how to do it (I will not)
I figured from the start (I figured from the start)
I'd give you half my heart (I'd give you half my heart)
But that amounts to twice as much as you
American scene shaker
You are England's newest hit makers (newest hit makers)
But I won't do it
I said you can't make me do it
Cause I won't kiss it
And I won't do it
Well, maybe I'll do it
You can kiss my face
It's a sick sick love
It's a sick sick love
It's a sick sick love
It's a sick sick love
It's a sick sick love
It's a sick sick love
The lyrics to Redd Kross's song Sick Love appear to be a commentary on the frequently fickle nature of fame, the way people can be built up and torn down within the span of a few months or even weeks depending on the whims of the press and the public. The song describes the experience of being lauded by the media for a short time, only to be cast aside when the spotlight is turned elsewhere. The line "Be your clown/Be a prophet for six months now" seems to suggest a sense of being exploited or used by others, with the singer expected to perform or prophesy without any real understanding of what is required of them. The line "I'd give you half my heart/But that amounts to twice as much as you" is a powerful expression of the sense of disillusionment and disappointment that can come with celebrity, when the people you thought were your supporters turn out to be selfish and self-promoting.
Other lines in the song appear to be directed more specifically at members of the music industry, such as "Kiss the boot - made of suede/Kiss the mirror/Before the image starts to fade." These lines suggest a sense of artificiality or insincerity in the way that many musicians are expected to perform or present themselves in public, rather than being true to their own emotions or ideals. The repeated refrain "It's a sick, sick love" seems to be an expression of frustration and disgust with the whole system of fame and celebrity that the song is describing.
Overall, the lyrics of Sick Love present a powerful critique of the ways in which people can be manipulated and exploited for the sake of profit or popularity, with little regard for their own humanity or well-being. It's a song that challenges listeners to think critically about the pressures and expectations that come with success, and to resist the urge to conform or compromise in order to fit in with a particular scene or culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Build me up - Tear me down
You alternately praise me and then belittle me
Be your clown
You expect me to act like a joke and entertain you
Be a prophet for six months now
You put me in a position of leadership, but only for a short time
They kicked me out
You rejected me and threw me out
You used to pick on me
You used to bully me
Now I'm on the cover of your magazine
Now that I'm famous, you want to showcase me on your publication
Without a reason
You are doing this without any valid explanation
What has changed
You act differently towards me now, compared to before I was famous
Kiss the boot - made of suede
You show your admiration for something superficial and materialistic
Kiss the mirror
You have an infatuation with your own reflection
Before the image starts to fade
You're afraid your good image/perception might reduce
Then it's gone
Your infatuation with the image is temporary
I've known all along
I always knew
That what you did was wrong
That your actions are not right
You are so evil - and ugly too
You're both a bad and unattractive person
American scene shaker
You try to influence popular culture in the United States
You are England's newest hit makers (newest hit makers)
You're popular in England now as well
But I won't do it
But I won't comply with your expectations
I said you can't make me do it
I refuse to do what you want me to do
Cause I won't kiss it
Because I won't submit to your desires
And I won't do it
I refuse to do what you want me to do
Well, maybe I'll do it
I might cave in to your demands
You can kiss my face
You can humiliate me
It's a sick sick love
Our relationship is unhealthy and toxic
It's a sick sick love
Our relationship is unhealthy and toxic
It's a sick sick love
Our relationship is unhealthy and toxic
It's a sick sick love
Our relationship is unhealthy and toxic
It's a sick sick love
Our relationship is unhealthy and toxic
It's a sick sick love
Our relationship is unhealthy and toxic
Contributed by Aria T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.