Really Red
Encyclopedia
Really Red
was one of Houston Texas' first Punk bands in the late 70's, along with The Legionaire's Disease Band, Plastic Idols and the Hates. Their roots can be traced as far back as the late 60's when Ronnie Bond and Kelly Younger had a high school band called The Lords. A few years later they met up with John Paul Williams and established themselves in the oppressive pre-punk days of the early-to-mid-70's. As a band, they had existed in some form on and off for years under various names, doing mainly covers, until they were inspired by their first Legionaire's Disease gig. With the addition of drummer Bob Weber they quickly evolved into Houston's most prominent Punk band of that era. Their sound developed into something unique and distinctive, while never straying too far from its loud, fast, aggressive roots. As one of Houston's original first-generation punk bands they built on the new sounds, and they brought all kinds of influences to bear on the examples from England and New York. Just like Austin's Big Boys and The Dicks, they made something specifically Texan out of punk rock. Their left-wing politics embraced their lone star legacy. The result was inventive, multi-faceted, and powerful. They left behind memories of countless passionate, high-energy shows, and a legacy of classic recordings.
Along with a few other groundbreaking local bands, they helped kick-start the early punk scene in Houston and spread their message further by taking to the road and playing with other such pioneering acts as D.O.A., The Dicks, Circle Jerks, The Offenders, 999, The Lewd, Articles of Faith, Mydolls, SPK, Negative Approach, Sado Nation, MDC, Vex, Culturcide, The Bad Brains, The Effigies, The Big Boys and The Dead Kennedys among many others.
In Houston, they helped make the local scene explode and created a sense of community like no other local band had done previously or since. Along with their "paying gigs" they were always available to do benefit shows for causes as diverse as The Nuclear Freeze Campaign, the Vancouver 5 or even for a vet bill for an injured dog. They worked as hard as they played, and they thrived on the DIY ethic, starting their own C.I.A. label. As well as fronting Really Red, lead singer U-Ron, as Perry Coma, hosted the original "Funhouse" radio show, on Pacifica's KPFT, cracking open many a young suburban Houston mind to punk and other new underground music. Their contributions to the early Houston and Texas underground scene cannot be overstated yet due to historical inaccuracies Really Red's contributions and influence has been often neglected and overlooked.
Really Red broke up in 1985 after releasing 2 albums, 2 singles, 2 EP's, and tracks on various compilations. Their classic '81 LP "Teaching You The Fear" was re-issued on Empty Records in 2004.
Their song "Prostitution" appeared on the Alternative Tentacles
hardcore punk compilation album Let Them Eat Jellybeans
and another song of theirs, "I was a Teenage Fuckup" appeared on the soundtrack to the film American Hardcore
.
The only member to continue making music has been drummer Bob Weber who joined the Houston band Anarchitex.
Really Red
Really Red was one of Houston Texas' first Punk bands in the late 70's, along with The Legionaire's Disease Band, Plastic Idols and the Hates. Their roots can be traced as far back as the late 60's when Ronnie Bond and Kelly Younger had a high school band called The Lords...
was one of Houston Texas' first Punk bands in the late 70's, along with The Legionaire's Disease Band, Plastic Idols and the Hates. Their roots can be traced as far back as the late 60's when Ronnie Bond and Kelly Younger had a high school band called The Lords. A few years later they met up with John Paul Williams and established themselves in the oppressive pre-punk days of the early-to-mid-70's. As a band, they had existed in some form on and off for years under various names, doing mainly covers, until they were inspired by their first Legionaire's Disease gig. With the addition of drummer Bob Weber they quickly evolved into Houston's most prominent Punk band of that era. Their sound developed into something unique and distinctive, while never straying too far from its loud, fast, aggressive roots. As one of Houston's original first-generation punk bands they built on the new sounds, and they brought all kinds of influences to bear on the examples from England and New York. Just like Austin's Big Boys and The Dicks, they made something specifically Texan out of punk rock. Their left-wing politics embraced their lone star legacy. The result was inventive, multi-faceted, and powerful. They left behind memories of countless passionate, high-energy shows, and a legacy of classic recordings.
Along with a few other groundbreaking local bands, they helped kick-start the early punk scene in Houston and spread their message further by taking to the road and playing with other such pioneering acts as D.O.A., The Dicks, Circle Jerks, The Offenders, 999, The Lewd, Articles of Faith, Mydolls, SPK, Negative Approach, Sado Nation, MDC, Vex, Culturcide, The Bad Brains, The Effigies, The Big Boys and The Dead Kennedys among many others.
In Houston, they helped make the local scene explode and created a sense of community like no other local band had done previously or since. Along with their "paying gigs" they were always available to do benefit shows for causes as diverse as The Nuclear Freeze Campaign, the Vancouver 5 or even for a vet bill for an injured dog. They worked as hard as they played, and they thrived on the DIY ethic, starting their own C.I.A. label. As well as fronting Really Red, lead singer U-Ron, as Perry Coma, hosted the original "Funhouse" radio show, on Pacifica's KPFT, cracking open many a young suburban Houston mind to punk and other new underground music. Their contributions to the early Houston and Texas underground scene cannot be overstated yet due to historical inaccuracies Really Red's contributions and influence has been often neglected and overlooked.
Really Red broke up in 1985 after releasing 2 albums, 2 singles, 2 EP's, and tracks on various compilations. Their classic '81 LP "Teaching You The Fear" was re-issued on Empty Records in 2004.
Their song "Prostitution" appeared on the Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
hardcore punk compilation album Let Them Eat Jellybeans
Let Them Eat Jellybeans
Let Them Eat Jellybeans!, subtitled "17 Extracts From Americas Darker Side", is a compilation album released by Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles in 1981. It was one of the earliest compilations of underground music in the United States and its original release included an insert of all of the...
and another song of theirs, "I was a Teenage Fuckup" appeared on the soundtrack to the film American Hardcore
American Hardcore (film)
American Hardcore is a documentary directed by Paul Rachman and written by Steven Blush. It is based on the book American Hardcore: A Tribal History also written by Blush. It was released on September 22, 2006 on a limited basis...
.
The only member to continue making music has been drummer Bob Weber who joined the Houston band Anarchitex.
Members
- Ronald "U-Ron" Bond - Vocals
- Kelly "Green" Younger - Guitar
- Robert NMN Weber - Drums
- John Paul Williams - Bass guitar
Singles and EPs
- Crowd Control/Corporate Settings 7" (CIA Records) - 1979
- Modern Needs/White Lies 7" (CIA Records) - 1980
- Despise Moral Majority: 4 song Live 7" EP (CIA Records) - 1980
- New Strings for Old Puppets 7" EP (CIA Records) - 1982
Full lengths
- Teaching You the Fear (CIA Records) - 1981 (subsequently reissued on Empty Records) - 2004
- Rest In Pain (CIA Records) - 1985
Compilations
- Let Them Eat JellybeansLet Them Eat JellybeansLet Them Eat Jellybeans!, subtitled "17 Extracts From Americas Darker Side", is a compilation album released by Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles in 1981. It was one of the earliest compilations of underground music in the United States and its original release included an insert of all of the...
(Alternative TentaclesAlternative TentaclesAlternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
, 1981) - Cottage Cheese From The Lips Of Death (Ward 9 Records, 1983)
- American Hardcore SoundtrackAmerican Hardcore (film)American Hardcore is a documentary directed by Paul Rachman and written by Steven Blush. It is based on the book American Hardcore: A Tribal History also written by Blush. It was released on September 22, 2006 on a limited basis...
(Rhino Records, 2006)
External links
- An article on the Really Red
- http://www.myspace.com/strangereactioncom Really Red Fans myspace