Redd Kross have always existed slightly to the left of everything and perfectly in the center of themselves. Formed in 1979 by Hawthorne brothers Jeff and Steven McDonald (ages 15 and 11 at the time) the band sprang to life in the same Southern California orbit that produced Black Flag, with whom they played their earliest shows. But even then, Redd Kross were unmistakably their own thing. Where their peers carved out strict definitions of punk, the McDonalds treated the genre as an open invitation: a passport to mix bubblegum with noise, Kiss with the Velvet Underground, the Partridge Family with the Germs, sometimes in the same song and always without apology. 

Through the ’80s and ’90s, Redd Kross built a reputation as one of the great unsummarizable American bands: Too tuneful for the hardcore kids, too scrappy for the pop purists, and too weird for anyone looking for an easy tag. Sonic Youth brought them along repeatedly, seeing a kindred experimental streak beneath all that California color. Meanwhile, the early Seattle scene quietly absorbed their approach to melody and irreverence; more than a few future icons have cited Redd Kross as a formative influence, even if the McDonalds insist they were just doing what came naturally. 

Last year, the band enjoyed what many called “the year of Redd Kross,” marked by a critically acclaimed self-titled double album, a documentary (Born Innocent), and a memoir (Now You’re One of Us). All three were met with universal praise, and longtime fans weren’t surprised; Redd Kross have been punching above their weight and outside their lane for more than four decades. Touring in support of this cluster of projects found the band at full power, whether headlining across the U.S. and Europe or joining the Melvins (where Steven and Dale Crover pull double duty). The response from audiences old and new echoed something critics have hinted at for years: Redd Kross remain a band entirely at ease with who they are, confident in their contradictions, and unafraid to let their joy, curiosity, and ambition guide them on stage and in the studio, proving that authenticity, self-discovery (and acceptance!) can be thrilling, even after decades. 

As they move toward their tenth album (recording slated for 2026), Redd Kross remain a singular presence in American music. Few groups have survived this long, and fewer still have done it without losing their way in some form or another. Redd Kross is a band built on instinct, contradiction, and an unshakeable belief that good ideas come from anywhere. After 45 years plus, their energy is coiled like a tightly wound rubber band, ready to propel a child's whirlybird into flight. Let’s all watch them soar.