The year was 1978, and brothers Jeff (15) and Steve (11) McDonald started a band in their home city of Hawthorne, Calif., called The Tourists. Their first public gig was at the legendary “Church” in Hermosa Beach, home to Black Flag’s rehearsal space and ground zero for the South Bay punk movement of the late ’70s and early ’80s. After a name change to Red Kross—Red Cross, their original, post-Tourists name, had some legal ramifications—the group released two of the most seminal records in the history of modern American rock. Records that would go on to influence sub-movements like glam, grunge, and of course punk rock.
Born Innocent: The Red Kross Story endeavors to document the history of the band through a series of interviews and archival footage. Fans of the band can even take part in the funding themselves—and come away with some pretty sweet gear—through the film’s Kickstarter page.
The film, directed by Andrew Reich, the Emmy Award-winning TV comedy writer best known as Executive Producer on Friends, features interviews with Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Buzz Osbourne and Dale Crover (The Melvins), and Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks, Bad Religion), as well as hours of material from the Brothers McDonald themselves.
To pledge dollars toward the film’s goal and watch a new trailer, click here.
