Really Red

Alternative Tentacles is proud to present the first-ever complete, three-volume collection of Texas punk legends Really Red. None of their catalog has been available for years—some not for decades! 
Really Red was the backbone of Houston’s underground from the early punk era clear through ’80s hardcore. Like The Dicks in Austin, they directly challenged an insanely violent police department at no small risk to their own lives. Their sound itself incorporated art and post-punk elements, with a musical and lyrical depth on par with bands like Mission of Burma, Wire, or Dead Kennedys. Singer Ronnie Bond (a.k.a. U-Ron Bondage) was never afraid to push intelligence or mess with Texas. Kelly Younger’s guitar style is as unique in its own way as that of The Gang of Four’s Andy Gill, while Bob Weber’s taut, precise and sometimes unorthodox drum patterns would not be heard again until the likes of John Wright of NoMeansNo. It’s all driven forward by the driving, elastic basslines of John Paul Williams. This collection presents the sound better then it has ever been, so hear them again for the first time—or the first time ever. 
Volume 1: Teaching You the Fear is the much-loved first album that’s been unavailable since Empty Records reissued it ten years ago. More manic and locked-in then the early singles, this is Really Red in their prime, fired up and focused to lay down what they likely thought was their one shot to get it all on vinyl. The title track even calls out specific murders by the Houston cops that they wouldn’t even admit were crimes! The release comes with part one of David Ensminger’s (Left of the Dial) extensive interview with Bond. A true classic of its time—or any time—Teaching You the Fear has been restored from the original tapes and re-mastered by Jello Biafra to sound better then ever!