I love a good music documentary. Not to be confused with the Linda Blair film from 1974 (but certainly connected), I knew that Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story (2024) had to be prioritized on my list. I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan, but I certainly appreciate their place in punk rock history and how they later broadened their sound, appealing to a broader demographic.
Directed by Andrew Reich, a producer on the popular sitcom Friends and a collaborator with founding brothers Jeffrey and Steve McDonald, brings to audiences a funny, informative, and heartfelt piece about a band surviving on the fringe of major success.
Before becoming Redd Kross, the band was known as The Tourists and had their first gig in 1978, opening for punk legends Black Flag. A year later, they would change their name to Red Cross. The name was a homage to a particular scene in William Friedkin’s classic The Exorcist (1973). Can you guess which scene?
In the early 1980s, they would have to change their name again, or at least change the spelling order to appease the organization, the Red Cross. They became Redd Kross, and the rest is history.
Despite a rather high turnover rate in the band, the brothers McDonald have consistently delivered a wide range of punk and rock music that has amassed a large cult following, while mainstream success has seemed just out of reach. My personal exposure to the band left me feeling they were a bit jokey or gimmicky, never quite punk, never quite pop. What I didn’t take into consideration at that time was maybe that was all by design.
They had fun and joked about the things they loved or respected, and you get that feeling when watching Born Innocent. For me personally, the one thing I always appreciated about them was the fact that they did a cover of the song “Look on Up at the Bottom” by The Carrie Nations, the fictional band featured in the Russ Meyer film Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, and it’s great.
Watching the film, you can see why they were so influential to so many artists, but you also see the other side as to why they never went big time. It was their choice, but I’m not sure it really matters. Through a multitude of interviews with family, friends, colleagues, and fans, we get to see the inner workings of the band, the perspectives of former members, and even a moment when they reunite with the original line-up.
Redd Kross is the real deal, even when hearing stories about them playing the entire album Tommy by The Who at a live show instead of their own. When execs were in attendance, you can’t help but appreciate their outlook. This documentary captures that humor, the relevance, and the passion for doing things the way they wanted.
Born Innocent is one of the best music documentaries I’ve seen in quite some time. Loaded with bonus features, this release is “Solid Gold” and a must-own, whether you’re a fan or not.
The Blu-ray is now available on Amazon Prime.
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