Ep494: Redd Kross Documentary Director & Record Collector Andrew Reich

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Nate Goyer

Music, Music History, Music Interviews

4.7 • 579 Ratings

🗓️ 21 April 2025

⏱️ 87 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

TV writer & Record Collector Andrew Reich discusses his decade-long journey creating a documentary about Los Angeles music legends Redd Kross and the McDonald brothers' musical partnership.

Topics Include:

How Andrew made the leap from TV writing to filmmaking.
Wife's suggestion sparked the documentary idea.
Heard Steve McDonald's abduction story on a podcast.
TV writing different from documentary making - can't control narrative.
Documentary structure doesn't follow traditional storytelling beats.
Director learned new storytelling techniques through editing.
Documentary required extensive collaboration with editor Aaron Elders.
Filming spanned approximately 10 years (2015-2025).
Jeff McDonald's hairstyle changed dramatically throughout filming.
Andrew discovered Redd Kross through "Teen Babes from Monsanto" album.
Became fan at 13, requesting records for radio station.
Redd Kross connects diverse bands from Black Flag to Go-Go's.
Director considers Redd Kross one of Los Angeles' greatest bands.
Documentary coincided with band's current renaissance and revival.
Making the movie spurred new Redd Kross creative activity.
Band created "Born Innocent" song specifically for the film.
Initial filming was sporadic until Kickstarter provided funding.
Created oral history structure from interview transcripts.
Collected extensive archival material throughout production process.
Film deliberately kept under 90 minutes for accessibility.
Cut "Desperate Teenage Love Dolls" section despite importance.
Film focuses on brothers' relationship rather than complete history.
Steve's abduction possibly influenced band's fantasy/dress-up aesthetic.
Andrew admires documentaries like "Anvil" and "Dig."
Avoids rock critics in documentaries, preferring eyewitness accounts.
Parents' interview about abduction was emotionally challenging.
Wishes he had footage of certain legendary shows.
New photographs emerged after film completion for eventual Blu-ray.
Describes record collecting journey starting in New Jersey.
Now focuses on first pressings of albums he loves.
Sold unnecessary records to fund first pressing purchases.
Australian bands currently producing best new punk music.
Prefers seeing smaller shows over expensive arena concerts.
Purchased rare Redd Kross/White Flag split single.
Film rentals now available worldwide at reddkrossfilm.com/rent

Rent "Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story" here.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, record nerds, check out the next level audiophile furniture at sidetracked workshop.com.
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0:08.6	I personally have a sidetracked workshop double sidekick in my house, and it's not only gorgeous, but incredibly practical.
0:14.6	Check them out for yourself at sidetracked workshop.com.
0:17.8	Don't keep your records and crates, and don't trust that feeble IKEA furniture.
0:22.4	Give your vinyl the respect it deserves with furniture from sidetracked workshop.com.
0:28.0	And now on with the show.
0:30.9	Welcome to the vinyl guide.
0:32.7	The podcast for record collectors and music nerds.
0:35.7	Here's your host.
0:36.4	The biggest record nerd of them all, Nate Goyer.
0:39.1	Well, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to episode 494 of the Final Guide,
0:45.4	the podcast for record collectors and music nerds.
0:48.5	And you're going to want to get a coffee or a tea for this one.
0:52.9	Well, you can grab a beer or two if you want.
0:55.5	Even if it's morning.
0:56.6	I look, I'm not going to judge you.
0:58.3	But you're going to want to be relaxed.
1:00.4	We cover a lot of ground today.
1:02.4	We welcome to the show, Mr. Andrew Reich.
1:05.2	He's a TV writer, producer of multiple television sitcoms, including the show Friends.
1:13.3	He's the director of the new Red Cross movie, Born Innocent, as well as being an avid record collector. So we talk many
	...

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