They've been labouring in relative LA obscurity for more than a decade but now world domination time has come for bubblegum rockers REDD KROSS. With a new 45, 'Trance', trouncing all-comers for the title of Pop Rock Single Of The Summer, and their first headline tour camply laying waste to UK crowds, god-like brothers JEFFREY and STEVEN McDONALD expound their theories with a bemused and amused JON HOTTEN...

IN A small West London hotel bedroom, super-groovy pop rock brothers Jeffrey and Steven McDonald are really beginning to, erm, relate to England.

"When we were going past Newcastle in our bus," says Steven, "I had the Kinks on my headset, and I could totally identify with 'Village Green Preservation Society'!"

The eccentric McDonalds lead Redd Kross, LA-based minor rock legends, a freaky amalgam of Kiss, Cheap Trick, Black Sabbath and the Banana Splits. Formed 14 years ago as a pure punk trash band, Redd Kross had one cute advantage, bassist Steven was 11 years old.

"Being so young was kinda novel,” admits Steve, "but our real talent was as child prodigy schmoozers."

Redd Kross schmoozed out on their obsessions with the Ramones and the Partridge Family. At various times, the early line-up included Black Flag's Ron Reyes, the Circle Jerks' Greg Hetson and a pre-Bangles Vicki Peterson.

Our father has a carpentry business, and he still kinds thinks we'll join it," camps Jeffrey, "but I can't really see that happening, can you?"

Not unless people want carpenters with jet black bob haircuts and paisley corduroy bell-bottoms.

Having cut a six-song EP in '79, Redd Kross's official vinyl debut was the cheesy trash epic 'Born Innocnet' in 1981.

'Born Innocent' is schizo; one cut is called 'Kill Someone You Hate', while another, 'Linda Blair', is a rock-opera tribute to the star of 'The Exorcist' - its killer couplet is, 'Kidnapped, raped, possessed/Linda is the best'.

"We weren't capable of sounding like Journey," confesses Steven, "so we threw all our influences into a great rock 'n' roll stew."

The early '80s found the McDonalds launching enthusiastically into their drug phase.

"We were so stoned that we couldn't really write any songs, so we had to make an album of covers of bands who were our musical icons," says Jeffrey. The result, 'Teen Babes From Monsanto', includes a triumphant rendition of Kiss's 'Deuce', which still features in the band's live set.

The album's title, though, reflected a nightmare at the very heart of California's apple pie American dream.

"Monsanto was a ride in Disneyland that was always called the Monsanto ride after the corporation that sponsored it," confesses Jeffrey. "It was the only place in Disneyland where you could go and smoke grass..."

Smoke GRASS? In DISNEYLAND? Jesus!

REDD KROSS then recruited guitarist Robert Hecker "a musician geek guy", and cut 'Neurotica', a power pop classic that confirmed the band as hip shakers on the US underground scene.

Atlantic won the Redd Kross signatures in 1990 and they began work on the 'Third Eye' album. It took three months, which still rankles with Jeffrey.

"Three months was, on refection, too long. It's not really how we are. I mean, we are not Journey."

You're telling me. Steve Perry would still, after three months, be gargling honey for his perfect throat!

"Journey," says Steven, "is probably the worst thing that could happen to you if you started a band."

'Third Eye' is Redd Kross's antidote to dumb American rock. It's a totally sussed pop rock LP, from the infectious 'Bubblegum Factory' to the tragically beautiful 'This Is Where I Am Today'. And if anyone's written a better rock song than 'Annie's Gone' since 'Third Eye' came out last year, I haven't heard it. 'Third Eye' was far too clever for Atlantic.

"All the A&R staff got fired after we got signed," explains Jeffrey, "so we got shoved into the alternative music ghetto on the 52nd floor or something." Atlantic dropped the band soon afterwards.

But between times, Redd Kross managed to squeeze out the greatest Xmas rocker since Slade's 'Merry Xmas Everybody' in 'Super Sunny Christmas' - the ultimate freeway festive anthem.

FREE OF their contractual ties, Redd Kross are now managed by John Silva, who also handles Nirvana, and the band are rocking the UK on their first headline tour. Their current single is 'Trance', a slice of groovy psychedelia on the Seminal Twang label.

"We just wanted to thrash something down and get it out,", admits Jeffrey, and really try to get a following over here before we get another deal."

The deal should be no problem. Several majors are schmoozing round with a view to putting Atlantic's limp efforts to shame.

"We've been going 12 years," concludes Jeffrey "so I think we'll be the oldest overnight sensations that you can get, really."

Really.

By: Jon Hotten