Redd Kross, an alternative rock/garage rock/power pop/cover version 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 Ron Reyes (a.k.a. Chavo Pederast) on drums, the band's first gig was opening for Black Flag. They also opened for The Germs.
Red Cross
At the time of their first self-titled EP, in 1980, the band changed their name to Red Cross and shortly afterward, 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. To complete the lineup on their first full-length album, Born Innocent, they assembled a revolving door of talented musicians including a young Janet Housden on the drums. 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" 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 & Tammy Baker, Tatum O'Neil, 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.
Redd Kross
In 1984, Redd Kross returned with drummer Dave Peterson to record Teen Babes from Monsanto, a cover album featuring songs originally by artists including David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, and The Shangri-Las, and containing stickers reading Quit School.
In 1984, lead guitarist Robert Hecker joined the band, as Redd Kross embarked on tour in support of Teen Babes from Monsanto.
In the 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, and it's sequal Lovedolls Superstar as well as co-wrote it with Dave Markey and Jennifer Schwartz. Both movies are available now on DVD from We Got Power Films.
Returning in 1987 with new drummer Roy McDonald in tow, Redd Kross released Neurotica, an album reportedly influenced by Saturday morning cartoons and breakfast cereal (one of the songs was called Frosted Flake), widely considered to be one of the albums that started the grunge movement in music. Unfortunately, although the album itself was successful, the band's label, Big Time Records folded, and due to related legal problems, Redd Kross was unable to record any new material under its own name for three years.
Tater Totz
As The Tater Totz, the McDonalds joined Michael Quercio from Three O'Clock and Danny Bonaduce, and released Alien Sleestaks from Brazil, the title a tribute to the series Land of the Lost. Another cover collection, it included songs originally by Queen and Yoko Ono. The second Tater Totz album, in 1989, included Cherie Currie of The Runaways, and Pat Smear. A third Tater Totz album was released after Redd Kross re-formed, called Tater Comes Alive. A side project, Anarchy 6, appeared in the mock punk tribute Hardcore Lives!, released an album, Live Like a Suicidal, and was featured in Lovedolls Superstar.
Later career
In 1988, drummer Victor Indrizzo joined the band.
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. Former Red Hot Chili Peppers / future Pearl Jam drummer Jack Irons joined for the Third Eye tours.
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 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 unofficially broke up after the death of guitarist Eddie Kurdziel. However, it has been made official, and a new album is due in 2007. Redd Kross still retains strong followings in Spain, Australia, Japan as well as a cult following in the United States.
Current
On July 1, 2006, Redd Kross returned to the live stage after almost a decade's absence. The line up of Jeff McDonald, Steven McDonald, Robert Hecker, and Roy McDonald performed at the REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney / Cal Arts Theater) at Disney Hall in Los Angeles. They played a career-spanning set, and introduced some new material, as well, to an overwhelming ovation. They have further confirmed dates in North America and Europe, additionally.
Recent News
- Steve is married to Anna Waronker (formerly of that dog), and they both appear on Phranc's album Milkman. (Steve on bass, Anna on backing vocals.) He has played bass for Beck tours as recently as summer 2003. While Redd Kross was on hiatus, he formed a solo project, The Steven McDonald Group, and did an online only art project release called Redd Blood Cells, in which he 'played bass' with The White Stripes. Steven has also played bass for Sparks, Carole King, Green and Yellow TV, and Jack Black's Tenacious D.
- Jeff married Charlotte Caffey (from The Go-Go's) in 1993.
- A song (Not Bad At All) by Steven was featured in a television commercial for the MINI Cooper
- The same song later appeared in the film Failure to Launch.
- Brian Reitzell was the drummer for AIR on their 1998 tour.
- Eddie Kurdziel, who also produced the band Fuzz Bubble, died of an accidental drug overdose in 1999.
Related Projects/Soundtracks
- In addition to the Lovedolls films and Spirit of '76, members of Redd Kross have appeared in a few films of director Alison Anders. Steve, Jeff, and Brian played members of Matt Dillon's Beach Boys-esque rock band in Grace Of My Heart. Jeff played a junkie songwriter in Sugar Town. Jeff and Steve both featured in Things Behind The Sun.
- Redd Kross has had co-projects with Shonen Knife, and had songs on the soundtracks to Good Burger, PCU, Bordello of Blood, An American Werewolf in Paris, and Varsity Blues.
- Steven produced Imperial Teen's self-titled album with Roddy Bottom of Faith No More, and was Beck's bassist for the Sea Changes tour. Steven also has produced Turbonegro's 2005 release Party Animals.
- Steven plays bass on the 2006 release from Sparks and is on tour with them.
- The McDonald brothers also produced an album for The Donnas in 1999: Get Skintight.
- Ze Malibu Kids is a band featuring the McDonald brothers, Anna Waronker, and Astrid, that released an album in 2002.
- Robert Hecker has released two albums with the band IT'S OK.
- Janet Housden went on to be in several popular and not-so-popular L.A. combos, including the Lovedolls, the Waifs, the Superkools, the Excessories, and currently plays with the Shakes. She also starred in Desperate Teenage Lovedolls and its sequel, Lovedolls Superstar, as Patch "Christ" Kelly.
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||
| US Hot 100 | US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | UK | |||
| 1990 | "Annie's Gone" | - | #16 | - | - | Third Eye |