Really Red was one of Houston, Texas' first punk bands and existed from the late 1970's through 1985.
History[]
The Really Red line up consisted of John Paul Williams on bass guitar, Ronnie "U-Ron" Bond vocalist/lyricist, Bob Weber on drums and Kelly Younger on guitar. Really Red quickly evolved into one of the most prominent and popular Texas punk bands 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 the original first-generation Texas punk bands they built on the punk genre bringing all kinds of influences to bear, including the influences of Texas psychedelic stalwarts like the 13th Floor Elevators and the Red Crayola. Like Austin's Big Boys and The Dicks, they made something specifically Texan out of punk rock. Their progressive socially conscious politics boldly flaunted the Lone Star mainstream. The result was inventive, multifaceted, and powerful. They left behind memories of countless passionate, high-energy shows, and a legacy of classic recordings. On special rare occasions Austrian avante garde film maker, Kurt Kren, would project his films as a backdrop for the band's performance.
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 touring the USA several times and playing some dates in Canada. They often shared the bill 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 Canadian Vancouver 5 Legal Defense, KPFT radio or even for a vet bill for an injured dog. They thrived on the DIY ethic, starting the co-op C.I.A. Records label. As well as fronting Really Red, lead singer U-Ron, as Perry Coma, hosted the original "Funhouse" radio show, on Pacifica's Houston station KPFT, cracking open many a young suburban Houston mind to punk and other new underground music. Their huge contributions to the early Houston and Texas underground scene cannot be overstated yet somehow Really Red's contributions and influence has been often overlooked and neglected.
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. Most of side two of their 2nd album, "Rest in Pain", departed from the punk genre into a dark soundscape that was a homage to the Red Crayola's "Parable of Arable Land" album.
Their song "Prostitution" appeared on the Alternative Tentacles punk compilation album Let Them Eat Jellybeans. An alternative take of "Nobody Rules" was included on the compilation "Cottage Cheese from the Lips of Death" and "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.
Members (sometimes under various other names)[]
- Ronald "U-Ron" Bond - Vocals/lyrics
- Kelly Younger - Guitar
- Robert Weber - Drums
- John Paul Williams - Bass guitar
Discography[]
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
- Really Red 1980 - 1984 (Angry Neighbor) CD
Compilations[]
- Let Them Eat Jellybeans (Alternative Tentacles, 1981)
- Cottage Cheese From The Lips Of Death (Ward 9 Records, 1983)
- American Hardcore Soundtrack (Rhino Records, 2006)